The ongoing India vs England Test series sees a fresh controversy as players and experts raise concerns over the Dukes ball losing shape early. Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Stuart Broad weigh in.
The India vs England Test series has taken a dramatic turn, not just with bat and ball, but with the ball itself becoming the center of controversy. The ongoing Lord’s Test witnessed multiple interruptions as the Dukes cricket ball lost its shape prematurely again raising serious concerns about its quality and consistency.
India’s newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill was visibly frustrated when the second new ball had to be changed just 10.3 overs into its use. What followed was a dramatic dip in India’s bowling performance. While Jasprit Bumrah wreaked havoc early, taking 3 wickets in just 14 deliveries with the original ball, India couldn’t secure another breakthrough until the session ended.
The replacement ball raised even more eyebrows. It not only swung less than 0.855 degrees on average compared to 1.869 with the original but also appeared much older and softer. Bumrah, choosing his words carefully, noted that such issues didn’t arise in his previous England tours.
Even former cricketers weighed in. Stuart Broad, who has long criticized the quality of the Dukes balls post-2020, claimed on social media that the ball looked like it had already seen 18-20 overs. “We are talking about the ball too much because it is such an issue. This needs fixing,” Broad said.
The cricket ball should be like a fine wicket keeper. 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.
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) July 11, 2025
Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it. A…
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Former England captain Nasser Hussain agreed with the criticism, saying the game was becoming “too precious” about perfect balls. He argued, “In the history of cricket, balls go soft and lose shape. That’s normal. But now we’re addicted to perfection.” He also criticized the decision to change the ball when it was favoring the bowling side, calling it a “bizarre gamble”.
Day 3 saw England echoing India’s frustration. After Jofra Archer complained about the ball in the 46th over, umpires conducted a shape test using rings but the ball passed, and no replacement was offered. Atherton and Hussain, live in the commentary box, called for umpires to take full control of such decisions and keep players out of the debate.
This isn’t a new issue. The Dukes ball has faced heavy criticism since 2020 for going out of shape and becoming soft too soon. Even in the County Championship, the ECB has experimented with Kookaburra balls, further highlighting concerns.
So far in this series, complaints have emerged as early as the first session of each Test, with ball changes often occurring around the 43rd over. The data shows a significant change in outcomes post 30 overs, with a wicket average of 86.09 between overs 31 to 80 the highest seen in England during the ball-by-ball record era.
Meanwhile, Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd. (makers of the Dukes ball), defended the product, stating that natural wear and tear is part of the game. He also pointed out that harder pitches and more powerful modern bats are likely contributing to the early wear of the ball.
As both India and England gear up for the remainder of the series, the ball controversy threatens to overshadow the on-field action. Will the ICC or ECB step in to review the matter, or will players continue to struggle with an unpredictable ball? Only time will tell.
