Three days after India’s emphatic 336-run win in the second Test at Edgbaston, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has laid to rest the controversy surrounding Akash Deep’s dismissal of Joe Root — a key turning point late on Day 4. The debate stemmed from video footage and commentary suggesting the delivery may have been a back-foot no-ball. But the MCC, cricket’s guardian of laws, has now publicly stated that the delivery was legal under Law 21.5.1.
Mitchell’s observation ignites firestorm
The controversy began shortly after the delivery itself, with BBC Test Match Special commentator Alison Mitchell highlighting what appeared to be a back-foot infringement.
“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!”
This observation was echoed on social media and in broadcast commentary, with fans and pundits circulating images and videos that suggested Deep’s rear foot had strayed beyond the return crease. Former England batter Jonathan Trott also suggested during a JioStar segment that it should have been called a no-ball. However, no such call was made at the time — neither by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Sharfuddoula Saikat, nor third umpire Paul Reiffel.
MCC: decision was correct under the laws
Responding to the growing debate, the MCC issued a clarification through a spokesperson to Cricbuzz, directly addressing the legality of the delivery and the interpretation of the law.
“On Day 4 of India’s Test against England last week, there were questions raised about the delivery from Akash Deep which bowled Joe Root, with some fans and commentators believing it to be a no ball.”
The spokesperson added:
“While Deep landed unusually wide on the crease, and some of his back foot appeared to touch the ground outside the return crease, the third umpire did not call a no ball. MCC is happy to clarify that this was a correct decision in Law.”
The MCC cited Law 21.5.1 in its clarification:
“For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touching the return crease appertaining to his/her stated mode of delivery.”
The key point, according to the MCC, lies in how the law interprets the “landing” of the foot:
“MCC has always defined the moment that the back foot lands as the first point of contact with the ground. As soon as there is any part of the foot touching the ground, that foot has landed, and it is the foot’s position at that time which is to be considered for a back foot no ball.”
“Clearly, at the point Deep’s foot first touched the ground, the back foot was within and not touching the return crease. Some of his foot may have touched the ground outside the crease subsequently — that is not relevant to this Law. At the point of landing he was within the crease, and this was therefore rightly deemed to be a legal delivery.”
Irfan Pathan defends legality with visual evidence
Adding weight to MCC’s interpretation, former India pacer Irfan Pathan broke down the moment in a video for Sony Sports Network, pushing back against what he saw as media-driven outrage.
“There is a controversy being created by English media and then also on social media. It’s been shown that the ball was a no-ball. Lekin asli kahaani kya hai? (But what’s the real story?) The real story starts a few frames before (the photo shared on social media). The contact point is what matters. If the contact point was on the line, then it would be a no-ball. But because the contact point is inside, it is a legal delivery.”
In a further statement, Pathan reinforced what both the MCC and Mitchell had pointed out visually:
“That’s why it’s not a no-ball. Legally he’s taken a good wicket. Skillfully, he took the wicket. The delivery from Akash Deep — which we said was wide of 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!”
Turning point in India’s emphatic win
The timing of the wicket added fuel to the debate. Root’s dismissal — bowled for 6 by a seaming delivery that nipped back — left England in deep trouble at 50 for 3 late on Day 4 while chasing a daunting 608. They ended the day at 72 for 3 and were bowled out for 271 on the final day, handing India one of their most dominant overseas Test wins.
While the legality of the ball became a hot topic in the aftermath, the MCC’s explicit interpretation of Law 21.5.1 now puts the matter to rest — confirming that Akash Deep’s delivery was within the laws, and India’s breakthrough moment remains a valid one.
