England could well be Oval and out

If England bowlers, particularly Stuart Broad, do not desist from taking continuous breaks, things could take an ugly turn in the deciding fifth and final Ashes Test

England could well be Oval and out

If England bowlers, particularly Stuart Broad, do not desist from taking continuous breaks, things could take an ugly turn in the deciding fifth and final Ashes Test

Dispirited and in disarray following the innings and 80-run shellacking at Leeds last week, England could face further humiliation if they do not desist from their unsporting practice of having their fast bowlers continually take breaks off the field during play.

England's unfair ploy has not escaped the scrutiny of match umpires and could take an ugly turn if repeated at the Oval.

Incidentally, the Oval was the scene of the unsavoury ball-tampering controversy in 2006, when Pakistan forfeited the acrimonious Test to England for ball tampering.

England pace bowler Stuart Broad, son of ICC match referee Chris Broad, not known to be the epitome of sporting behaviour himself during his playing days as England Test batsman, was the main offender at Headingley last week.

Umpire Asad Rauf was seen waving his finger at Broad on the second day and giving him a talking-to when he returned to the field after a number of breaks.

Rauf also drew England captain Andrew Strauss's attention to the infraction of the ICC substitutes rule, which stipulate that the offending team could be forced to field with only 10 fieldsmen for a time equivalent to the period of absence from the field.

Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle confirmed to the media that the home team were warned they would have to field with 10 men if a player was off the field for more than two overs without a legitimate injury concern.

"He (Rauf) re-iterated to England that a player has to have a genuine reason for going off the field".

"If a player is off the field for more than two overs without a legitimate reason then a team would not be permitted to use a substitute and would have to field with 10 players. Both teams were told this before the series".

Following Rauf's admonishment, Strauss was seen frantically waving Broad back onto the field before the side was reduced to 10 players. He appeared to hobble and mime an ankle injury as the Pakistani umpire continued what appeared to be a dressing down.

A repetition of the incident by England, especially if it resulted in an Australian batsman being run-out by a substitute fieldsman, could cause a major rumpus, given the brouhaha in the 2005 series when Ricky Ponting was run out by substitute fieldsman Gary Pratt in the controversial fourth Test at Trent Bridge.

Cricketing history has recorded that Ponting stormed off the field angrily and screamed at (then) England coach Duncan Fletcher in full public view.u00a0

Source: The Telegraph, Sydney