The Marilebone Cricket Club (MCC) said in a dispute over the delivery of Akash Deep that Joe Root was bowled during the Edgbaston Test. According to the statement, the back foot returns of the Indian fast bowler landed inside the crease, saying that nothing was wrong with dismissal.
Akash hit the stumps on the second ball of the 10th over during the second Test. The wicket came at a significant time, chasing the target of 608 runs, struggling at 50/3 to the team led by Ben Stokes. However, the dismissal instigated the controversy when Repley showed that the foot behind the sky touched the return crease.
Sky deep cleans the root for 6 with a stunning delivery
Former England batsman Jonathan Trot questioned the validity of delivery that dismissed the route, suggesting that it could be a back-foot no-ball. However, former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who was in the air even at the time, said the ball was completely fair.
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Shastri said that the third umpire Paul Refel did not intervene, which confirmed the validity of the dismissal. Chris Ghaffni and Sharfudaula were among the on-field umpires for the match.
Replay revealed that the foot return landed inside the crease, and delivery was considered legal. The rest of the leg later crossed the line.
𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 #Asashdeep Uproot #JOEROOT With a sending in-swinger, his second wicket firmly on England on the back leg.#ENGVIND 2nd test, day 4 | Now live on jiohotstar https://t.co/2wt1uwecdi pic.twitter.com/AVU1SQRRCG
– Star Sports (@StarsportsIndia) July 5, 2025
Questions raised about delivery of Akash Deep – MCC
The MCC spokesperson explained the dispute around the delivery of Akash Deep, which was told by Cricbuzz, who bowled the root. The spokesman admitted that the debate took place but clarified that the decision was correct according to cricket laws.
A MCC spokesperson said, “On India’s four -day test against England last week, questions were raised about delivery from Akash Deep, who bowled Joe Root, some fans and commentators did not consider it no ball.”
He said, “While deep was unusually widened at the deep crease, and some legs behind it appeared to touch the ground outside the crease, the third umpire did not say no ball. Mack is happy to clarify that it was a right decision in the law,” he said.
Akash Deep’s foot touched the ground inside the first crease – MCC
MCC further clarified to deal with the debate around the delivery of Akash Deep. He explained that when Deep’s back foot approached the ground for the first time, it was completely back within the crease.
“Clearly, at that point Deep’s leg touched the first ground, the back leg was inside and the return was not touching the crease. Some of his legs may later touched the ground outside the crease – it is not relevant to this law. At the point of landing he was within the crease, and therefore it was considered as a legal delivery,” MCC clarified.
Akash Deep became the second Indian bowler to take 10 wickets in a Test match on English soil. He took six wickets in the second innings, as England were dropped for 271 on the last day. India won 336 runs in the second Test and level the five-match series 1–1.
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