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IND vs ENG 2nd Test: The English experts and fans have slammed Akash Deep and have reckoned that the way India's fast bowler took Joe Root's wicket was illegal and that it broke all the rules. There was a controversy even during the commentary box.

Ex-England cricketer Alison Mitchell, while doing commentary on BBC TMS, was heard saying, β€œThe 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!"

Akash's foot popped inside the crease but he allegedly touched the returning crease with the help of his back foot. At the same time, the fans slammed the officials for not taking action on this incident.

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Ex-India coach Ravi Shastri, who was also part of the commentary panel, revealed that since Akash's foot landed inside the return crease, it was a fair delivery.

Watch the video here:

What Rules Say About Back Foot No Ball?

There are two kinds of creases on the cricket field. The popping crease is perpendicular to that pitch from which the bowler's front foot position is marked. The return crease is paralleled to the pitch on either side of the stumps.

According to MCC Law 21.5.1:

(21.5.1) The bowler's back foot should land inside and shouldn't touch the return crease according to his/her kind of delivery.

(21.5.2) the bowler's front foot should land, where some part of the floor, should either stay grounded or raised

- at the same side of the imaginary line, which joins both the middle stump as part of the return crease

- and should be behind the popping crease

Why Is There Controversy?

This incident became controversial as to how these creases are analyzed. As far as the popping crease is concerned, a ball is considered fair, if any part of the front foot is stuck behind the crease. As far as the return crease is concerned, a delivery is called a no-ball when the back foot touches the return crease.

The on-field umpire can analyse front-foot no-balls but judging back-foot no-balls is quite hard because they happen behind their position. And that is why the third umpire analyzes these infractions. But for the hosts and Root, this was overlooked on the fourth day.