Australia batter Usman Khawaja expressed frustration over the ball change during the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval in London, which he believed played a role in England‘s comeback to win the match. The tourists began the last day needing 249 more runs to reach a target of 384, starting on 135-0.
England’s Chris Woakes made a crucial impact early on the final day, taking two wickets in quick succession, dismissing both David Warner(60) and Usman Khawaja (72) after their strong opening partnership.
The ball seemed to be moving more in the air and off the pitch compared to the previous day.While factors like overhead conditions and a refreshed pitch due to rain could have contributed to the difficult batting conditions, the change of ball might have also influenced the game. The ball was replaced after England fast bowler Mark Wood hit Khawaja on the helmet late on the preceding day.
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