Cricket: Billy Bowden no-balled

Billy Bowden

New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden was at the centre of a post-test battle of the ball after England's thrilling two-run win over Australia at Edgbaston.

The eccentric Bowden, who made the final decision to give Australian tailender Michael Kasprowicz out caught by English wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, copped flak when it became known he had pocketed the ball after the match.

According to Jones, Bowden approached the wicketkeeper and asked if he could have the ball as a souvenir as it was his first Ashes series.

"I should have kept the match ball but Billy caught me when I wasn't thinking straight. He asked if he could have it because it was his first Ashes series. Jones said he would have liked to keep it as a souvenir of the closest result in England-Australia history - "It's mine [first Ashes series] as well".

The England and Wales Cricket Board stepped in last week and asked that the ball be returned, which it was.