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Akash Deep celebrated by punching the air before putting his arm around Duckett's shoulder and walking with him, seemingly exchanging a few words. (AP)
On day two of a pulsating fifth Test at the Oval in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India pacer Akash Deep’s dismissal of England’s Ben Duckett broke a strong opening partnership. However, it was his subsequent actions that drew a lot of attention. After getting Duckett out caught behind on 43 off 38 balls in the first innings, Deep celebrated by punching the air before putting his arm around Duckett’s shoulder and walking with him, seemingly exchanging a few words.
KL Rahul eventually pulled Deep away, and umpire Ahsan Raza spoke with the Indian bowler. The incident, which happened at the end of an over, was followed by a chat between Deep and Shardul Thakur at the boundary. Commentators Mike Atherton and Dinesh Karthik both disapproved of Deep’s behavior, with the former calling his send-off to Duckett “unnecessary.”
Reflecting on the eyeball-grabbing passage of play, the Bengal pacer revealed how he got back on track despite the England opener’s fancy shots threatened to take him off his conventional lengths and lines.
“I have a good record against Duckett and have got him out a few times. I have always fancied my chances against the left-handers and he is no different. On that day, he was trying to throw me off my line and length and had played a number of unconventional shots. That’s when he said to me that it was his day and I will not be able to get him out,” Deep told Revsportz on the Oval dismissal.
The wicket was Deep’s solitary in the first innings. In an otherwise forgettable match, Deep only registered one more wicket during India’s emphatic six-run win.
“The truth is, if a batter moves around the pitch and plays these shots, your line and length does get impacted, for you don’t really know what he will do next. That’s what was happening. Also, England were off to a quick start and we needed a wicket.”
“We were defending a modest score and wickets were critical. When I got him out (smiles), I said to him: ‘You miss, I hit. Not always will you win. This time, I win’. It was a continuation of what he was saying to me, and it was all done in good spirit,” remarked Deep.
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The 27-year-old received criticism from several corner for his send-off gesture. “There is no need to walk him off in that fashion. Your job is done at that point. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bowler do that after getting someone out. It was strange really,” said England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick was quoted by Sky Sports.
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