In the ongoing five-match Test series between India and England, the Dukes ball has emerged as an unexpected subplot. Across the three matches played so far, there have been repeated discussions about its shape and condition, with the Indian side visibly frustrated during the third Test when their request for a ball change was denied on Day 2. Following England’s thrilling win at Lord’s, former skipper Alastair Cook weighed in on the debate and also took a humorous swipe at bowlers. Speaking on BBC Sport, Cook joked about how bowlers often look for excuses when things don’t go their way. “I just love how bowlers are always moaning. It’s like they bowl a bad ball and it’s never their fault. They’ve scraped the footmark… If they bowl a bad ball, they look at the ball and blame the shape,” said the England legend.While he did not seem too convinced that an out-of-shape ball is a genuine concern for bowlers, Cook also shared his take on what impact it has on batting. “I think a batsman would much rather hit some slightly harder ball. Nothing worse than playing a lovely cover drive like I used to and it going nowhere,” he added.
Earlier in the 3rd Test, England legend Nasser Hussain did not mince his words when he called out the Indian side for their persistent ball change requests and expressed his surprise at the same. “I cannot work out why you’d want to change a ball that was doing this much. I thought it was one of the most bizarre decisions,” said Hussain.
Poll
Do you think the shape of the Dukes ball has affected the outcome of the series?
As the debate around the ball continues, attention now shifts to the fourth Test at Old Trafford, starting July 23. With England leading 2-1, India face a must-win situation to keep the series alive.
