[WATCH] ENG vs IND 2025: Ball tampering suspicions surface as Brydon Carse seen stepping on ball in Manchester Test

England pacer Brydon Carse has come under fire for an incident during the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, in which he looked to engage in questionable ball-handling. The incident, witnessed by numerous pundits and former players, is being investigated as a possible case of ball tampering, one of cricket’s most serious infractions.

The incident took place in the 12th over of India’s second innings, immediately after Indian skipper Shubman Gill hit Carse for successive boundaries. With the Dukes ball showing signs of wear, Carse was observed stopping it in his follow-through by stepping down on it with substantial pressure rather than using his hands or foot as usual.

While many bowlers use their foot to halt the ball in stride, Carse’s action was purposeful and strong. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting commented on the match, stating that the motion appeared to be a premeditated attempt to scuff one side of the ball, perhaps resulting in reverse swing later in the innings, especially with spin likely to be introduced soon. At the time, the ball had lost much of its initial momentum, and Carse’s actions did not appear to be intended to stop a boundary or save a run.

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 👇🏻pic.twitter.com/ssnYCrAqqi

— Kanhaiya Lal Saran (@SaranKL_) July 27, 2025

“This is from Brydon Carse’s last over.

This is something he does during his follow-through. Stops the ball and does it; oops. “A couple of big spikes into the shiny side of the ball,” Ponting stated live on Sky Sports Cricket.

With ball tampering being seen as one of the most serious violations in cricket, players and officials alike are on high alert for any suspicious behaviour.

The infamous incident involving Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft, who were caught attempting to change the state of the ball with sandpaper, resulted in lengthy suspensions and significant condemnation throughout the cricketing world.