The latest of several Asian-origin cricketers to take the field for England’s national team, Dal came on as substitute fielder for Ben Stokes, who went off the field after having picked up a niggle on Day 2.
Dal was picked as England’s designated 12th man for the Test because he plays for the second XI of Nottinghamshire, on whose home ground the fourth Test is being played.
His presence had an instant impact on the match as well, an Australian wicket falling immediately after his ‘debut’.
India-Pakistan at the Ashes
Anuj Dal was not the only Asian-origin individual on the field of play though. The umpires officiating the 4th Test are India’s S Ravi and Pakistan’s Aleem Dar, making this only the fifth occasion in history when an Indian and a Pakistani umpire have colluded in a match – this being the first Ashes match.
S Ravi has impressed in the limited chances he has got since being promoted to being a Test umpire recently while Aleem Dar is one of the most senior umpires around with 97 Tests under his belt.
The first time such an India-Pakistan partnership was forged was 18 years ago in 1997, when Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Javed Akhtar officiated over a Pakistan vs South Africa match in Rawalpindi.
The scheduled series between India and Pakistan might not see light of day in 2015, but the Asian contingent at this year’s Ashes are sure making themselves felt – on the cricket field and the social media.
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