In the first 13 days of the five-match Test series between England and India, the biggest challenge and the talk of the town is the Dukes ball losing shape and getting replaced every 10 minutes. The former captain of the England side, Nasser Hussain, however, reckoned that the final decision of the discussion should be up to the umpires. 

Hussain also pointed out that the two reasons for the Dukes balls getting changed it either because they had been losing their shape or because the bowlers had failed to pick the wickets in three balls. Shubman Gill, the Indian captain, was on the line when, despite getting three wickets early on the second morning, he changed the ball and later wasn’t happy with that.

See Also: [WATCH]: ENG vs IND 2025: Shubman Gill furious with umpire for changed ball

“Strong goes to the umpiring. They have the gauge in the pocket, and they can check the ball during the drinks break or when a delay occurs there or a wicket has fallen. There are only two reasons for which the balls are changed, which are that it’s gone out of shape, or precious bowlers like Stuart Broad wouldn’t be doing anything with it for three deliveries, and it's not his fault, but the ball’s fault.’ Nasser Hussain expressed on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Nasser Hussain explains the reasons behind the persistent ball change

The law book says that for the change of ball, it’s the umpires who discuss independently whether to change it or not. However, the ball should not be changed unnecessarily, and it will be up to the umpires to check the ball through the gauge and make the final decision. It can’t be changed only because of the tactical way, but the law doesn’t push the umpire to change it only because it doesn’t go through the gauge.  

"There's two reasons a ball gets changed:
1. It's gone out of shape, or
2. Precious bowlers like Broad aren't doing anything with it for three deliveries and it's not his fault, but the ball's fault!" 🤣

Nasser laying down the law on persistent ball changes 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/BdNpv1vQjR

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 13, 2025

Hussain also felt that in the last couple of years, the balls have gone out of shape quite regularly, and it will be up to the maker to bring developments to it. However, the maker thought it had been an excuse from the bowlers for several months. He also urged the ICC to change the rule where the teams could take the second new ball in 60 or 70 overs, rather than 80.

Joe Root also suggested a unique method where he felt that a team should be given at least three chances to change the ball in 80 overs.

It was the 12th day of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar 2025 trophy between England and India, and it was not a rare day when the Dukes ball didn’t grab the center stage of the five-match series. India’s premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, however, refused to comment on the change of the Dukes balls at Lord’s, which didn’t satisfy the tourists and their captain, Shubman Gill.

The Gujarat pacer expressed that he hadn’t had a clear memory of the ball being changed during the two previous tours of England in 2018, and 2021, or the two World Test Championship finals he played at Southampton against New Zealand or at the Kennington Oval against Australia. But he refused to make any comment on the balls for fear of losing out on money.

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“The ball changes, I don't control that. I don't really want to lose out on money because I worked very hard, I bowled a lot of overs, so I don't want to say any controversial statement and get my match fees deducted. But we were bowling with the ball that we were given, and that's how it is. We can't change it; we can't fight it. Sometimes it goes your way [and] sometimes you get a bad ball, that's how it is.” Bumrah explained.

“I don’t want to say any controversial statement”- Jasprit Bumrah on Dukes ball-change

The incident happened on the eighth over of the second morning, by which the Indian side, or more specifically Bumrah, had already sent back England captain, Ben Stokes, centurion Joe Root, and Chris Woakes, who had celebrated a century in 2018 against India at the same venue. But the visitors complained that the umpires of the ball getting out of shape.

As the umpires followed the rule, after checking, they gave the Blue Brigade a different ball. But Gill wasn’t happy with that. He felt that it didn’t look like a 10-over old hard delivery that they were using before. Mohammed Siraj also complained about the seam part of the ball to the umpires.

A few days ago, the Dukes ball maker reckoned that the bowlers have found a new excuse for the ball losing shape. He felt that because of the heavy bats, the problem had been occurring. The maker also suggested that the ICC should allow the second new ball after the 60th or 70th over instead of the 80th over to make the process.

A major controversy erupted during the second morning session of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s. India started the day incredibly after Jasprit Bumrah, their premier pacer, bagged three wickets in no time. But their captain, Shubman Gill, was not happy with the umpires’ ball change just eight overs into the first session. 

Tensions escalated as Gill snatched the ball out of the umpires’ hands and threw it angrily back to his bowler in protest. He also clashed with the umpire, Sharfuddoula, asking their old back to be back. On the lead up to the red-ball clash, there were so many words exchanged from both camps regarding the Dukes ball losing their shape quickly, making it tough for the bowlers to get help off the surface.

See Also: [WATCH]: Jasprit Bumrah breaks Ben Stokes' defense during ENG vs IND 3rd Test

Ben Stokes, the England captain, felt that the gauge, umpires are using, perhaps doesn’t suit these Dukes balls. On the other hand, Gill reckoned that they had to make changes to the production. Meanwhile, the Dukes ball maker reckoned that it was only an excuse from the bowlers, besides advising the ICC to allow the second new ball from the 60th or the 70th over instead of the 80th.

Watch: Shubman Gill clashes with umpires over changed ball 

The incident occurred on the 91st over of the innings when Mohammed Siraj complained that the ball had gone out of shape. This came just 10.3 overs after the Blue Brigade took the second new ball. After multiple inspections, he umpires changed the ball. However, the Indian side wasn’t happy with the replacement delivery as the new one looked significantly older, which could affect the tourists’ bowling performance.

pic.twitter.com/eXM2If8QtX

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) July 11, 2025

The umpire had nothing to do with Gill’s anger as he asked the players to restart the game. In a rare and dramatic response, the Indian captain snatched the ball and smashed it onto the ground. After a few words with Akash Deep, Siraj also turned red in the face with the changed ball.

However, after another 42 deliveries, the replacement delivery was changed. This time, it was perhaps a new ball that brought a smile back to Gill’s face. But due to all the incidents, their focus drifted as England’s Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse got a fine 82-run unbeaten stand for the eighth wicket, going into the lunch break.