Test at The Oval ignites with Duckett versus Deep's exchange of barbs, wit, and timely departures
In the heart of the second day of the fifth Test at The Oval, a heated exchange between Indian fast bowler Akash Deep and England opener Ben Duckett has stirred up a storm in the England vs India series.
The incident unfolded during Akash Deep's over when he dismissed Duckett for 43. After the dismissal, Deep put his arm around Duckett's shoulder and whispered a few words that were perceived as a controversial send-off gesture. This physical contact from Deep was met with criticism from former cricketers and viewers, who deemed it unnecessary and provocative. Commentators like Michael Atherton and Dinesh Karthik called for restraint from bowlers in such situations.
The context of the altercation was a fiery battle between the two players. Earlier in the morning session, Duckett had played aggressively, using reverse ramps and scoops to score quickly off Akash Deep and others. Before getting out, Duckett reportedly told Akash Deep, “you can’t get me out,” which seemed to spark a response from the bowler.
The moment escalated to the point where former England captain Atherton said Akash Deep was “rightly dragged away” by teammate KL Rahul to avoid further confrontation. However, it appears that there was no lasting bad blood between the two players, as they were later seen sharing a friendly hug on Day 3 while batting together for India.
The incident has sparked debate in cricketing circles, with some pundits warning that such send-offs could lead to disciplinary action by the International Cricket Council (ICC) if they are deemed unsportsmanlike.
Meanwhile, on the field, the match continued to be a thrilling contest. Akash Deep, who was absent from the last Test, shared the new ball with Mohammed Siraj. Their bowling strategy involved bowling on the stumps and seaming it away, squaring Duckett up. Despite Duckett's onslaught, India continued to fight throughout the passage of play.
In other news, Jasprit Bumrah was released from the squad, according to a BCCI advisory. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley started playing after the wicket looked green and spicy. Prasidh Krishna was introduced into the attack, but leaked runs, going for 23 off his first three overs.
The article provides updates, live scores, latest news, team lineups, schedule, live streaming details, and website quizzes for the England vs India series. Stay tuned for more exciting action from The Oval!
The controversy between Akash Deep and Ben Duckett, stemming from a heated exchange during the fifth Test at The Oval, has raised questions about sportsmanship. Despite the altercation, both players later shared a friendly hug on Day 3, hinting at a possible reconciliation.
