‘Nothing else in the box’: Khawaja questioned umpires’ ‘brand new’ ball change in Ashes finale

The final controversy from the Ashes has left players questioning the umpires after a staggering call was made that altered the game.

Australian opener Usman Khawaja has revealed he questioned umpires at The Oval twice about the ball change that decided the fifth Ashes Test and was told there was “nothing else” in the box of replacement balls for them to choose.

Umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Joel Wilson have come under fire for their day four move to change the ball that was out of shape after clattering into Khawaja’s helmet.

Watch every game of the Major League Cricket Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Australia was on track to chase down a mammoth target of 384 before the change, with just nine balls left on day four, turned the match on its head.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting was one of those fuming with rage throughout day five as the home team snared three early wickets with a ball that resembled a new one before going on to dismiss the Australians for 334 and snare the victory.

England's James Anderson (L) and England's Stuart Broad (R) examine the ball. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

Khawaja said he spoke to the umpires on both day four and again on day five about the condition of the ball they picked out, raising the subject as soon as the new ball was bowled by Mark Wood.

“I walked straight up to Kumar and said straightaway, ‘That ball looks nothing like the one we were playing with. I can see writing on it’,” Khawaja told cricket.com.au after the match finished.

“It felt harder than any ball I‘ve faced in this Ashes series – and I’ve opened the batting against the new ball every single time.

🙃 #Ashespic.twitter.com/KiU0TRSsHk

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) July 31, 2023

“I said, ‘I don’t know what’s going on – you’ve gone from an old, reverse (swinging) ball to a brand new ball’.”

Khawaja questioned Dharmasena’s counterpart Joel Wilson on day five before he was dismissed, as the ball seamed and was swinging and making life hard for the Australians, and was surprised by is response.

“I asked Joel again today, ‘How are we using this ball right now? It’s so new’. And he said, ‘There was nothing else in the box’,” Khawaja said.

Chris Woakes celebrates Khawaja’s wicket. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The umpires picked from a box containing at least a dozen balls.

Even English seamer Chris Woakes, who dismissed Khawaja, said the Australians “wouldn’t have been happy” with the ball change.

Khawaja said the umpires had made a match-defining mistake and it should be looked at further.

“Personally, I think if there’s nothing else in the box that can match the ball you have, you can’t really change it,” Khawaja said.

“It‘s a bit frustrating as a batting unit because we worked our backsides off for 36 overs and then they changed the ball.

“As an opener you work so hard to get through to there and then you‘re facing a new ball again.

“That ball was 95 overs in and still hooping and bouncing.

“Unfortunately, that’s the hand you get dealt sometimes in cricket. It may not feel fair, but … hopefully the ICC can learn from it and try to look at that ball to change the process.”

Originally published as ‘Nothing else in the box’: Khawaja questioned umpires’ ‘brand new’ ball change in Ashes finale