India’s rising pacer Akash Deep found himself in the middle of controversy after dismissing England’s star batter Joe Root during the second Test. English fans and experts raised concerns about the legality of the delivery, calling it a potential breach of cricket’s laws.
Akash Deep’s Foot Placement Sparks Heated Debate
The debate grew louder in the commentary box too. BBC’s Test Match Special commentator Alison Mitchell pointed out an issue with Akash Deep’s back foot placement.
She said, “The delivery from Akash Deep – which we said was wide off the crease – his foot on the back crease is out. Looks like by about two inches. Maybe a little bit more. But comfortably. So his back foot, which needs to land within the line, just taps about two inches over the line. Not picked up!”
While Akash’s front foot was well inside the popping crease, the contention was that his back foot made contact with the return crease—something that goes against the rules.
𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 🥶#AkashDeep uproots #JoeRoot with a searing in-swinger, his second wicket puts England firmly on the back foot 🤩#ENGvIND 👉 2nd TEST, Day 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar ➡ https://t.co/2wT1UwEcdi pic.twitter.com/avu1sqRrcG
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 5, 2025
A section of the English fanbase was frustrated, accusing the officials of missing what they believed was a clear violation.
Ravi Shastri Counters with Support for Akash Deep
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who was also on commentary duty, disagreed with the criticism.
According to Shastri, Akash’s foot had landed inside the return crease and therefore, the ball was fair under the current rules.
This sparked a back-and-forth debate online as both camps argued over the technicality and how clearly it could have been judged in real-time.
Back Foot No Ball Rule Explained by MCC Law
The rule in question falls under Law 21.5.1 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which defines the legal position of a bowler’s feet during delivery.
It states that the bowler’s back foot must land inside the return crease and must not touch it. At the same time, the front foot should land behind the popping crease and not go beyond.
So while a bowler’s front foot is allowed to touch the popping crease (as long as some part remains behind), any contact with the return crease by the back foot results in a no-ball.
Third Umpire’s Role and Missed Opportunity
Judging back-foot no-balls remains a difficult task for on-field umpires due to the limited angle and visibility during delivery.
That’s why the third umpire is typically responsible for checking these errors. However, on Day 4 of the Test, this particular incident involving Akash Deep slipped through unnoticed.
For Joe Root and England, the moment passed without review, but it left a wave of debate across social media and cricket forums.
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