Through the course of two protracted, high-scoring Tests in Birmingham and Leeds, one quiet subplot has refused to go away from the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. It's the recurring procession of players walking up to the umpire with the match ball. Some go alone. Others take turns, perhaps hoping a fresh face might make the case stronger. At times, they even try their luck with the other umpire. But each time the ball slips through the metal gauge, the answer is the same: it's within limits, play on.

This isn't new. But the frequency and early timing of these appeals, sometimes as early as the 16th over, has drawn fresh scrutiny. Especially from teams struggling to coax movement or bounce from a ball that seems to grow weary far too soon.

At Headingley, it spilled over a little. Rishabh Pant, animated and exasperated, flung the ball away after yet another rejected appeal for a replacement. The moment earned him the match referee's attention, and a sanction. But it was also a revealing glimpse into a growing frustration among players across conditions.