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Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
IND vs ENG: ‘If we think some changes need to be made or tightened up, we will': Dukes ball owner on Dukes ball being reviewed
While the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has seen its ups and downs with India now trailing the series 1-2 against England, the sees had also seen the regular change of Dukes balls, the balls used for the five Test match series in England. In the three Tests so far, the ball has been changed well before the stipulated 80 overs with England's first innings at Lord's seeing five ball changes due to going out of shape with one ball being switched after only 10.2 overs on the second day of the Test. In a latest development as reported by BCC, England and Wales Cricket Board will collect as many used Duke balls as possible and return them to the ball manufacturer by the end of this week to review the cause behind the issue. It was confirmed by Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, the manufacturer of Duke balls, to the BBC and the owner also shared that everything will be reviewed in the manufacturing process. 'We will take it away, inspect and then start talking to the tanner, talking about all of the raw materials – everything. Everything we do will be reviewed and then if we think some changes need to be made or tightened up, we will,' Jajodia told BBC Sport. With India using the SG Balls and Australia using the Kookaburra balls, England has seen the usage of Dukes ball, which have benefited in production since 1760. Recent years have seen the Dukes ball going soft prematurely before the 80-over mark in Test cricket with the most recent incidents coming during the Lord's Test. After England won the toss and decided to bat first, the first innings saw the ball being changed five times with one ball being changed after 10.2 overs. It also saw an agitated Indian skipper Shubman Gill arguing with the on-field umpires and later some of the former cricket players too shared their views on the regular ball change slowing the game. Former England bowler Stuart Broad had called out the problem with the Dukes ball. 'The cricket ball should be like a fine wicketkeeper – barely noticed. We are having to talk about the ball too much because it is such an issue and is being changed virtually every innings. Unacceptable. It has been like this for five years now. Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it.' Broad had posted on X. Jajodia, who had bought British Cricket Balls Ltd from Grey-Nicolls in 1987, talked about the challenges being faced in manufacturing the Dukes ball. One is the raw materials which are natural and then have to be moulded and put together by a human being. Obviously the major aspect of a cricket ball is the leather that holds the whole thing together, and if the fibres that form the animal skin have got some sort of weakness or inherent problem that's something we can only find if it fails by further inspection and investigation. Covid did have a very serious effect on all sorts of businesses. In the whole process of tanning leather I would expect changes in personnel, whether either they passed away or decided that it was all too difficult. There is literally almost one tanner left that does cricket ball leather so there's not a choice. You have to work with the tannery to make sure that they produce what you want and by and large they do,' said the owner. Post the Lord's Test, former England skipper Joe Root also had shown his discontent over constant ball changes and blamed the issue for slowing the game. 'I personally think that if you want to keep getting the ball changed then each team gets three challenges every 80 overs and that's it. But the rings have to be the right size, not too big. That would be a nice way of compromising and saying it is not all on the manufacturer. Sometimes these things happen, but you cannot just keep asking and wasting time and slowing the game down at the same time,'Root had told Widen. With ECB now keen on getting to the cause of the issue and pushing for the resolvement of the ball going soft prematurely, Jajodia also talked about the need to be patient while the issues are found with the consultations with the ECB 'The unique nature of cricket is that you can't test that ball before it goes into play so therefore, if it fails, it fails in use and at the very highest level it's in the glare of publicity. All we can do to check everything as thoroughly as we can during the whole process of making the ball. At the end of the day, we've had three Test matches, they've all been good games. They've been interesting games. We should be very cautious and not be looking for drastic and dramatic changes. This is a product that's been going since 1760. There is no snap answer, all you can do is to go through the routine of everything that you do and try and identify,' said Jajodia.
NDTV
19-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"We Will Take It Away": Owners of 'Irritating' Dukes Ball, At The Centre Of Controversy In India vs England Series, Gives In
Some changes might be loading after huge complaints against the Dukes ball. Following frustration of players over Dukes ball going out of shape and softer way too quickly in the first three Tests of India, England series, owner of the brand, Dilip Jajodia, has said that he could make the ball with a "really, really hard at the centre", but it would "break bats and fingers". Players from both the sides have expressed their frustration with the ball going too soft and out of shape quickly during the series. The ball, known for producing some unbelievable movement and lasting long, has now been changed many times during these three Tests and has been smashed really hard for very long times by batters across both teams on pitches that have been batting-friendly for the most part. "We will take it away, inspect and then start talking to the tanner, talking about all of the raw materials - everything," Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, who make the Dukes, told BBC Sport. "Everything we do will be reviewed and then if we think some changes need to be made or tightened up, we will." In Test cricket a new ball is given after 80 overs into an innings but in the England series, the ball, as old as ten overs, has been changed due to its shape. "The fundamental thing about cricket balls is that the raw materials are raw materials," Jajodia said as quoted by Wisden. "They are natural, right? It is cow hide, it is cork, it is rubber, it is wool, winding thread, all that stuff. It's a completely natural, almost alive product." While Dukes has said that every ball is made to the highest standard, they have less control over the material. In 2022, during COVID-19, an issue with leather production and it being treated with wrong chemicals and wrong amount of time, owing to the pandemic, led to a batch of poor quality Dukes balls. Dukes have stayed committed to reviewing everything finely, from materials to production. This issue of ball change has slowed down the pace of the game. The ball can be made harder, Jajodia says. "I can put a rock in there, a really, really hard centre, and that will solve the problem. But you won't have a good game of cricket. That would break bats and break fingers". Just a couple of overs into the second day of play on Friday at Lord's, India complained about the Dukes ball, which was around 10 overs old. The umpire tried to put the ball through the hoop, but it did not go through. India captain Shubman Gill was seen having an animated chat with the umpire, possibly expressing his discontent with the replacement ball. Even in the drinks break, Gill appeared to be livid during his conversation with the umpire. Speaking after the second day of play in the third Lord's Test, England batter Joe Root called for implementation of a rule where the fielding team can be given a number of times which they can ask for ball's condition to be checked by umpires. "I personally think that if you want to keep getting the ball changed then each team gets three challenges every 80 overs and that's it," said Root as quoted by Wisden. "But the rings have to be the right size, not too big. That would be a nice way of compromising and saying it is not all on the manufacturer. Sometimes these things happen, but you cannot just keep asking and wasting time and slowing the game down at the same time," he added. The persistent issue with the ball continued when, 48 deliveries later, the ball required changing yet again. Even before the third contest, the ball-change trend was evident during the first two Tests. The Dukes' balls continued to be at the centre of attention yet again on day three. The process to identify the replacement began moments after the drinks break ended in the first session. Former England cricketer Ian Ward gave his take on the "ridiculous" ball change which caused an unprecedented delay in the first session of Day 3. Ward fumed at the umpire's decision not to change the ball during the drinks break, but after it, which led to a seven-plus minute break."They have decided to change the ball again, it's quite frankly ridiculous because if they've decided to change the ball, why was that not decided at the start of the drinks break?" Ward said on Sky Sports. "We waited for the entirety of the drinks break; they should be playing again now, and now the umpires have decided to change it and go through the procedure," he added. Former England pacer Stuart Broad believes that the constant change of the ball due to the loss of shape indicates that the Dukes "have a problem". "The cricket ball should be like a fine wicketkeeper. Barely noticed. We are having to talk about the ball too much because it is such an issue, & being changed virtually every innings. Unacceptable. Feels like it's been 5 years now. Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it. A ball should last 80 overs. Not 10," Broad wrote on X. Ahead of the third Test at Lord's, Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant had said about the ball going out of shape being "not good for cricket". "I feel the gauge should be the same (to determine if the ball has gone out of shape, irrespective of the ball brand), but if it is a little smaller, it will be better. Definitely, I feel it is a big problem because the ball is getting out of shape. But at the same time, it is not up to us. Because visually, when you see the ball, you can see it's de-shaped." "The ball is getting de-shaped too much. That has never happened like this. It is definitely irritating for the players because every ball plays in a different way. Because when it becomes softer, sometimes it does not do too much. But as soon as ball is changed, it starts to do enough. So as a batsman, you have to keep adjusting to it...I feel it is not good for cricket eventually," he added. According to ESPNCricinfo, England skipper Ben Stokes had said whenever we have touring teams visiting, there is an issue with the balls going soft and completely out of shape. "I do not even think the rings that we use are Dukes rings. It is not ideal. But you have to deal with it," he said.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG Tests: 'Soft' Dukes cricket ball to be reviewed after repeated complaints
Shubman Gill of India talks with Umpire Sharfuddoula about an issue with the ball (Photo by) The manufacturer of Dukes cricket balls will conduct a thorough review following widespread criticism of the soft balls used in the first three Test matches between India and England. The review comes after complaints about balls losing hardness and going out of shape quickly, particularly after 30 overs, causing match delays due to frequent ball changes. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) plans to collect the used balls and return them to British Cricket Balls Ltd, the company that produces Dukes balls, by the end of the week. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "We will take it away, inspect and then start talking to the tanner, talking about all of the raw materials - everything," said Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, who make the Dukes. "Everything we do will be reviewed and then if we think some changes need to be made or tightened up, we will." The Dukes ball, which has been in production since 1760, has faced issues in Test and County cricket in recent years. The ball is specifically used for Test matches in England, while India uses SG balls and Australia uses Kookaburra balls. Jasprit Bumrah and Joe Root react to the Dukes ball drama at Lord's | IND vs ENG During the Lord's Test, Indian captain Shubman Gill expressed disappointment with the replacement ball provided by the umpires after the second new ball needed changing in the first hour of the second morning. The ball change significantly impacted the game as Jasprit Bumrah had taken three quick wickets with the original ball, but Indian bowlers failed to secure any breakthroughs in the remainder of the first session after the ball was changed. Poll Do you believe the Dukes cricket ball requires significant changes following the recent criticism? Yes, major changes are needed No, it's fine as it is Former English pacer Stuart Broad , who has been critical of the Dukes ball in recent years, also voiced his displeasure with the replacement ball. The on-field umpires have had to regularly change balls throughout the ongoing five-match series due to quality concerns. The host board decides which ball is used for Test series. Currently, England leads the five-match series 2-1, having secured victories in London and Leeds, while India won in Edgbaston. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
News18
18-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Dukes Owner Makes U-Turn, Says Balls To Be 'Reviewed' After Multiple Complaints
Last Updated: Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, will review and change Dukes balls after complaints from Indian and English players during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Dilip Jajodia, the owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, who make the Dukes, has promised to 'review' their product and 'make changes' amid regular complaints from Indian and English players, pundits, and experts during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will send as many used Dukes balls it can collect from the first three Tests to the company by the end of the week for the process to begin. The home board for a Test decides which maker of the ball will be used. Dukes is one of the oldest ball brands and has been used in England for decades. Until the last few years, it was renowned for its pronounced seam, dark maroon color and significant help for bowlers. However, in the ongoing series, apart from those characterstics going muted, the balls have been getting too soft to bowl within a few overs. 'We will take it away, inspect and then start talking to the tanner, talking about all of the raw materials – everything," Dilip Jajodia told BBC Sport. 'Everything we do will be reviewed and then if we think some changes need to be made or tightened up, we will." This is in contrast to his stance from only a few days ago when the complaints were piling up. For example, on July 12, in an interview with The Hindustan Times he had blamed the pitches, the hard new bats and even the English weather. 'The balls are being hit harder, further, and therefore impacting things like pillars and seats and so on," he said. 'All these have an impact on the ball. When you look at any ball objectively, it's a small round object and it's been battered all day. To expect that to be perfectly in shape all day is an impossibility. It can't be done, nobody can do it. Also, we are playing a lot of Test cricket in England on drier and harder pitches. In the good old days of English cricket where the pitches were green and moist, the gold would be on the ball after 50 overs, it would be beautifully protected. But those days are gone." view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
18-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
After Shubman Gill's Scathing Attack At Dukes Ball, Manufacturer's Big Announcement
The Dukes ball, being used in the ongoing England vs India Test series, has come under severe criticism over its quality. At first, it was India captain Shubman Gill who raised concerns over the quality of the ball, highlighting how easily it loses its hardness. Over the course of the games, both India and England have had to change the ball on multiple occasions by bringing the quality issue in front of the umpires. Amid the Dukes ball's criticism, the company's owner has announced the decision to investigate the issue and make changes, if needed. Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, the company that manufactures the Dukes balls, told BBC Sport that his organisation would leave no stone unturned in its investigation. "We will take it away, inspect and then start talking to the tanner, talking about all of the raw materials - everything. Everything we do will be reviewed, and then if we think some changes need to be made or tightened up, we will," said Jajodia. India captain Shubman Gill had raised the Dukes ball issue in the press conference after his team won the second Test at Edgbaston. "It is very difficult for the bowlers. I think more than the wicket, maybe the ball is out of shape very quickly. It gets soft very quickly. I don't know what it is, whether it is wickets or whatever. It is difficult for the bowlers. It is very difficult to get a wicket in such conditions, when there is nothing there," Gill had said after the match. The Dukes balls have long been regarded as high-quality but, recently, issues have been reported with the ball, both in Test and county cricket. The ball tends to get soft long before it should be changed after 80 overs of an innings. The situation makes it quite difficult for bowlers to take wickets. India are trailing 1-2 in the 5-match series, with two more games to go.
