IND vs ENG: England Players Found Guilty of Ball Tampering? Brydon Carse Sparks Fresh Controversy in Manchester Test
England’s Brydon Carse sparks ball-tampering controversy during India Test; Ponting highlights suspicious act on air.
A fresh ball-tampering controversy has rocked the cricketing world, this time involving England pacer Brydon Carse during the recently concluded Manchester Test against India.
The incident, caught on camera and now widely discussed, has led to serious questions about the tactics used by the home side.
Brydon Carse Under the Scanner
The controversy unfolded in the 12th over of India’s innings. After Shubman Gill hit Carse for a couple of clean boundaries, the England pacer was seen stepping on the ball during his follow-through.
While it’s not unusual for bowlers to stop the ball with their foot, what raised eyebrows was how Carse appeared to press the ball down deliberately, rather than simply stopping or lifting it.
Watch the video here:
The moment sparked instant suspicion, especially with the ball starting to lose swing just as he was brought into the attack.
The footage quickly caught attention online, with several fans and analysts calling out the unusual movement.
Ponting’s live Reaction Adds Fuel
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, speaking live on Sky Sports, was quick to call it out.
“This is from Brydon Carse’s last over. Stops the ball and does it, oops. A couple of big spikes into the shiny side of the ball,” Ponting remarked, pointing toward what looked like an attempt to scuff the ball.
Ponting’s on-air observation added weight to the controversy, especially given his own experience as a top-level cricketer and captain.
The ball-tampering suspicion became a bigger talking point due to the timing, England were struggling to find movement, and roughing up one side of the ball is a known method to induce reverse swing.
Ball-tampering déjà vu?
The incident has reminded fans of the infamous 2018 Cape Town scandal involving Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith, and David Warner, where sandpaper was used to tamper with the ball.
That scandal rocked Australian cricket and left a long-lasting impact on the players’ reputations.
Although Carse hasn’t been officially charged, the visuals have triggered plenty of online backlash. Fans have started drawing comparisons and demanding further scrutiny from the match officials and ICC.
