'It’s a tactical ploy...': Alastair Cook slams R Ashwin for deliberately running on pitch on Day 2 of the 3rd Test

England commenced their innings in the Rajkot Test with a score of five for no loss without a ball being bowled, following a penalty imposed on India on the second day of the third Test. The penalty was a result of Ravichandran Ashwin encroaching on the pitch's protected area during India's batting. The umpires had previously issued a first and final warning to Ravindra Jadeja on the first day. Alastair Cook, the former England captain, has since alleged that Ashwin's act of running on the protected area was intentional.

Alastair Cook on five-run penalty against India

“Is it deliberate? Yes, it is. It’s a tactical ploy that you can disturb the middle of the wicket because Ashwin wants as much help (as possible) when he can bowl,” Cook said on TNT Sports.

“Normally, it happens in the third innings. You’re 150-200 runs ahead and you think, ‘just make sure you get up and down the wicket’… that was gamesmanship there, wasn’t it?”

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What does the rule say?

According to MCC regulations, the protected area of the pitch is defined as "the section within a rectangle that is bordered at both ends by imaginary lines running parallel to the popping creases, extending 5 feet or 1.52 meters in front of them, and on the sides by imaginary lines. These side lines run parallel to, and 1 foot or 30.48 cm away from, another imaginary line that connects the centers of the two middle stumps."

Rehan Ahmed eventually claimed Ashwin's wicket at the score of 37, bringing India's innings to a close at 445.

Law 41.14, which comes under unfair play section, states: “It is unfair to cause deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch. If the striker enters the protected area in playing or playing at the ball, he/she must move from it immediately thereafter. A batter will be deemed to be causing avoidable damage if either umpire considers that his/her presence on the pitch is without reasonable cause."

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“If either batter causes deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch, other than as in 41.15, at the first instance the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence. The bowler’s end umpire shall then warn both batters that the practice is unfair and indicate that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall apply throughout the innings. The umpire shall so inform each incoming batter, inform the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.

“If there is any further instance of deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch by any batter in that innings, the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence.

“The bowler’s end umpire shall disallow all runs to the batting side, return any not out batter to his/her original end, signal no-ball or wide to the scorers if applicable, and award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side.”

Ashwin scripts history with 500 Test wickets

However, Ashwin scripted scripted history on Day 2 of the third Test against England as he became only the second Indian to snare 500 wickets in Test cricket. Zak Crawley became R Ashwin's 500th wicket when he was removed by the spin wizard in the 14th over. The 37-year-old broke the promising opening partnership between Crawly and Ben Duckett to give India the much needed breakthrough.

Replying to India's challenging 445, Ben Duckett's fiery century powered England to a commanding 207/2 at the close of Day 2. Ben Duckett unleashed the Bazball avatar in him and cracked an unbeaten 133 off 118 balls to leave England trailing just by 238 runs.

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