[WATCH] ENG vs IND 2025: Ball tampering allegations surface after Brydon Carse seen stepping on ball during Manchester Test

England pacer Brydon Carse has come under the spotlight following an incident during the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, where he appeared to engage in questionable conduct with the ball. The act, observed by several commentators and former players, is being viewed as a potential case of ball tampering, one of the most serious offences in cricket.

The incident occurred in the 12th over of India’s second innings, shortly after Indian captain Shubman Gill struck Carse for consecutive boundaries. With the Dukes ball showing signs of wear, Carse was seen stopping it in his follow-through, not with his hands or foot in a conventional manner, but by stepping down on it with noticeable pressure.

While many bowlers often use their foot to stop the ball in stride, Carse’s motion seemed deliberate and forceful. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, commenting on the match, pointed out that the action looked like an intentional effort to scuff one side of the ball, potentially to generate reverse swing later in the innings, especially with spin set to be introduced soon. At the time, the ball had lost much of its early movement, and Carse’s actions did not appear to be aimed at stopping a boundary or saving a run.

Kanhaiya Lal Saran@SaranKL_

Isn't that ball tampering #ICC ? #IndVsEng #shame What's Brydon Carse is doing with the ball, you can hear Ricky Ponting talking about it here 👇🏻

02:35 PM · Jul 27, 2025

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“This is from Brydon Carse’s last over. This is something he does in his follow-through here. Stops the ball and does it, oops. A couple of big spikes into the shiny side of the ball,” Ponting said on live on Sky Sports Cricket.

With ball tampering now regarded as one of the most serious breaches in cricket, players and officials alike remain highly vigilant for any questionable conduct.

The infamous incident involving Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft, who were caught attempting to alter the ball’s condition using sandpaper, led to lengthy bans and widespread condemnation across the cricketing world.