Dukes ball maker urges ICC to change new-ball rule

Since the start of the five-match Test series in England against India, both camps’ bowlers have struggled with the ball in the middle overs. Once the shine of the new red Dukes balls comes out, it becomes incredibly tough for the bowlers to contain runs and pick up wickets after the 20th over. Both sides average over 50 once a partnership gets and could hardly pick up wickets. 

That’s where the visiting captain, Shubman Gill, reckoned that it would be wise to balance the game and bring something for the bowlers. Shoaib Bashir bowled a ridiculously long spell for the Ben Stoked-led side to make sure they get the taste of the second new ball quite rapidly. He felt ‘there should be a little help at least. If the ball is doing something, you enjoy playing.’

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But the Dukes ball maker, however, stated that the powerful bats and batters push the ball to go out of shape before the time frame. Dilip Jajodia, the owner of the Dukes, reminded that people often forget that the ball manufacturing involves a human element and depends a lot on the natural raw material- cowhide.

Dukes ball maker urges ICC to change 80-over new ball rule

Dilip has ruled the entire instance as ‘fashionable to criticize the ball as the bowlers and captain have made it a habit to try and put pressure on the umpires when they are not able to take wickets.’ That’s why he has brought a new solution where the teams should be allowed by the ICC to take the second new ball after 60th or 70th over of the innings, instead of the 80th.

It’s notable that at Edgbaston, even though the experienced bowler, Chris Woakes, was not able to pick wickets with the new ball at his home ground, both Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj were excellent in picking wickets in the first 20 overs and put pressure on the opposition side. Both enjoyed their respective five-wicket hauls in the game.

With the series leveled at 1-1, the action moves to Lord’s, where Brendon McCullum, the England head coach, has requested a spicy and bouncy surface from the MCC grounds men to assist their injury-return bowlers, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. However, the same surface could also help India’s premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, who will also make a comeback in this fixture.