Dukes ball under fire after Lord’s Test
Shubman Gill complains to umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat about the Duke ball going out of shape at The Lord's
The ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has not only seen India trailing 1-2 against England but also raised serious concerns over the quality of the Dukes balls used in the series.
The ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has not only seen India trailing 1-2 against England but also raised serious concerns over the quality of the Dukes balls used in the series.
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In all three Tests so far, the balls have been changed well before the standard 80-over mark, most notably during England’s first innings at Lord’s, where the ball was changed five times — including once after just 10.2 overs.
In response to the growing criticism, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to collect the used Dukes balls and return them to the manufacturer, British Cricket Balls Ltd, for inspection. Company owner Dilip Jajodia confirmed to BBC Sport that a full review of the manufacturing process is underway.
“We’ll inspect everything — the tanning, the raw materials — and make any necessary changes,” he said.
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The issue has sparked frustration from players and pundits alike. India’s captain Shubman Gill expressed his displeasure on-field with umpires.
Former England pacer Stuart Broad also slammed the quality, stating, “The cricket ball should be like a fine wicketkeeper – barely noticed. But we’re talking about it every innings. Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it.”
The Dukes ball, in use since the 1760s in England, has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years for losing shape or going soft too early. The ECB’s move to review the issue signals an urgent need for quality control ahead of future Test matches.
