Sri Lanka take field against Windies two hours late after row over change of ball in St Lucia
Sunday 17 June 2018 10:17, UK
Sri Lanka took to the field two hours late against Windies on day three of the second Test in St Lucia after a row over the changing of the ball.
Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould raised concerns about the condition of the ball on day two, with Sri Lanka advised before Saturday's play that they could not continue with the existing ball, leading to visiting captain Dinesh Chandimal refusing to lead his team onto the field.
Lengthy discussions involving match referee Javagal Srinath and the Sri Lanka and Windies camps ensued before the visitors agreed to the change of ball and to continue playing with Windies awarded five penalty runs.
It is understood Sri Lanka will contest any charge of tampering with the ball.
The only time a match has been forfeited in the history of Test cricket was in 2006, after Pakistan were penalised five runs for ball-tampering by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove against England at The Oval.
Former Sri Lanka player Kumar Sangakkara, speaking before the five-run penalty was imposed on the tourists, told Sky Sports Cricket: "I think that they feel hard done-by. There has been no accusation of ball-tampering and, as the pictures show, they are shining the ball in the allowed manner.
"The regulations stipulate that you can put saliva on the ball and shine it. They are not using any foreign material on that ball to alter its condition.
"So I think that everyone is a bit jumpy and walking on eggshells, especially after what happened in South Africa. So maybe umpire Gould was just being over-cautious.
"They say something, maybe, that meant the ball needed to be changed; maybe it was the shape. The Sri Lankans would have taken offence at that and would have made their case.
"All of these things can be sorted out pretty quickly I think by having a good, solid conversation - getting everyone involved and making sure that whatever is said is said clearly. The pictures point to something innocuous."
Sri Lanka closed day three on 34-1 in their second innings - Kusal Perera (20) the man out - to trail Windies by 13 runs after the hosts were dismissed for 300.
Devon Smith (61) and Shane Dowrich (55) hit half-centuries for Windies, while Sri Lanka seamer Lahiru Kumara snared 4-86 from his 26.3 overs.
Watch day four of the second Test live on Sky Sports Cricket from 2.55pm on Sunday, via the red button.
