A simmering concern—the performance of the Dukes cricket ball—has overshadowed India’s historic Test victory at Edgbaston. What’s the controversy The Duke’s ball is losing shape more often than not in the ongoing series. Captain Shubman Gill’s post-match comments have reignited a long-standing conversation about ball durability and the fairness it affords bowlers.Underperforming balls Bowlers are struggling with shape and bounce degradation by the 30th–40th over. The delicate balance between bat and ball, crucial to Test cricket’s integrity, is under threat. Dukes maker defends Dilip Jajodia, the Indian maker of the Dukes ball, who is now based in the UK, defends the design. “You can’t suddenly come after 20 overs and say this ball is not doing what I want. If I made a tough ball, it would have broken bats. That’s the problem; we have to be careful,” he says. A retailer’s perspective Varun Aggarwal, the proprietor of Ashoka Sports in Mumbai, offers a unique perspective. “The bounce depends entirely on the core. A rock-hard ball not only lasts longer and retains shape, it also feels like magic, even on local pitches. But the harder it gets, the more bats it breaks,” he told DC. Aggarwal recounted a Mumbai league season in which hard balls shattered seven bats in a span of two months. “Modern manufacturing has shifted from hand-crafted cores (wet wool over cork, dried over years) to machine-compressed cork. Leather once manually stretched for elasticity is now processed quickly via machines, sacrificing traditional refinement. With rising demand, the need for speed and economic constraints have changed the process. I honestly don’t know whether to blame the ball, the makers, or the moment!” A call for reform? Umpires now rely on gauge rings to test ball shape, with laws allowing a new ball after 80 overs. “If it fits through, we keep going,” says Ben Stokes, explaining the ball gauge ritual. Yet murmurs are growing. Perhaps it’s time to lower that threshold to 60–70 overs in favour of competitiveness. Final delivery This debate isn’t just about one ball or one match, it’s about preserving the spirit of the longest format. Gill’s concerns echo around dressing rooms and in retailers’ minds. The game’s balance must not be compromised, whatever the cost
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