BIPIN DANI
England may have won the Lord’s Test, but beneath the scoreboard lies a deeper controversy: the performance of the Dukes cricket ball. Bowlers from both sides, particularly India’s Shubman Gill have voiced frustration over the ball softening too soon, often within 30–40 overs. “It gets soft very quickly… it’s difficult to get a wicket,” Gill said after the second Test.
On already batting-friendly pitches, this degradation leaves bowlers out of options raising concerns about fairness and the format’s integrity.
Manufacturer vs. Match Reality
Dilip Jajodia, the ball’s India-born UK-based maker, insists the ball’s natural deterioration is expected. Harder balls, he warns, may compromise bats and player safety. “You can’t suddenly say after 20 overs that it’s not doing what you want.”
He points to changes in playing conditions and aggressive batting styles as major stress factors.
Ground-Level Insight from Mumbai
Retailer Varun Aggarwal of Ashoka Sports (Mumbai) offers a behind-the-scenes perspective, citing how manufacturing has shifted from hand-crafted, wool-wrapped cork cores to compressed machine work. Speaking exclusively, he said, “A rock-hard ball retains bounce and shape, but breaks bats. I saw seven shattered bats in one local league!”
He adds that today’s leather is stretched by machines, losing the elasticity that once defined elite cricket balls.
Reform on the Horizon?
Currently, laws allow a ball change after 80 overs, checked via gauge rings. England’s Ben Stokes quipped: “If it fits through, we keep going.”
But voices now call for shortening that window to 60–70 overs to restore competitiveness.
Final Delivery
This isn’t just about a flawed ball it’s about protecting the balance that makes Test cricket iconic. As players and retailers echo the same concern, the question remains: Can cricket evolve its equipment without eroding its essence?
