The dismissal of the sky deep disputes over the dismissal of the route –

Akash Deep has been a total game-changer for Team India in the second Test match at Edgbaston, against England. With his swing and ability to bring the ball into the right-hander, has benefitted the visitors greatly, and as a result, he picked up four wickets in the first innings, and has picked up two already in the second.

That meant, England were reduced to 72/3, needing 536 runs to win, on the last day of the Test match. That said, the highlight of Akash Deep’s bowling on Saturday was, when he cleaned up Joe Root with an absolute ripper, that claimed his off stump. But that dismissal has attracted a bit of controversy as well.

England commentator Alison Mitchell said on BBC, “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!”

But then former India coach Ravi Shastri did come up with a valid counter for the accusation. He said that Akash Deep’s foot landed inside the return crease and hence the delivery was a fair one.

So, what does the rule really say? As per the MCC Law 21.5.1, “For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride (21.5.1) the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touch the return crease appertaining to his/her stated mode of delivery.

“(21.5.2) the bowler’s front foot must land with some part of the foot, whether grounded or raised – on the same side of the imaginary line joining the two middle stumps as the return crease described in 21.5.1, and – behind the popping crease.”