Let’s be honest — cricket should be about great bowling, clever captaincy, and thrilling batting performances.
But lately, in this series between England and India, something else has stolen the spotlight: the ball itself.
We’ve somehow reached a point where the quality of the Dukes ball is causing so much chaos that it’s actually overshadowing the cricket.
And let’s face it — that’s a bit ridiculous.
Five Balls in One Innings? Come On Now
England’s innings lasted 112.3 overs. Sounds normal enough — until you realise they went through five different balls during that time. Yes, five.
It’s become such a frequent issue that bowlers and captains alike have started raising their eyebrows.
Stuart Broad summed it up best: “The cricket ball should be like a good wicketkeeper — barely noticed. But instead, it’s all anyone’s talking about.”
He’s got a point. A new ball is supposed to last 80 overs.
Lately? We’re lucky if it holds shape for 10.
India’s Strange Mid-Session Swap
One of the most baffling moments came when India swapped out the second new ball — not once, but twice in a matter of overs.
Jasprit Bumrah had just bowled a magic spell, dismantling Ben Stokes and Joe Root with sheer class. Then, oddly, India wanted to change the ball.
Why? No one knows. The replacement didn’t swing, didn’t seam — it did absolutely nothing.
Still, at the drinks break, captain Shubman Gill pushed again for a change — and got it.
Just like that, the game had seen three different balls in one session.
The result? Frustration, confusion, and spectators wondering what on earth was going on.
Ball Checks, Rings, and the Growing Farce
As a former umpire, I know the process well.
When a ball gets knocked out of shape, it’s tested using a metal ring gauge.
If it no longer fits through the ring, it’s deemed unfit for play, and the team can select a replacement from a selection of used balls provided by the ground staff.
But now it feels like teams are checking the ball every other over, and changes are being granted too easily.
In the past, umpires would tell players to stop fussing and carry on.
You picked the ball? Great. Deal with it.
Today? Ask, and ye shall receive.
The Fans Deserve Better Than Watching Umpires Juggle Balls
Imagine paying £120 to £175 for a ticket and spending half the day watching umpires holding up the game while they sort through boxes of balls like they’re picking apples at a fruit market.
It’s not what fans pay for.
And to make things worse, matches are ending with 15 or more overs left unbowled — short-changing fans and ruining the rhythm of the game.
Joe Root even weighed in with a suggestion: allow only three ball-change appeals per 80 overs, similar to how the DRS system limits reviews. Honestly, it’s not a bad idea.
The Old Days vs The New Game
Back in the day, ball changes were rare. Umpires didn’t even carry the ring gauge.
We relied on experience and judgment. If the ball got scuffed or went a bit soft? Tough.
Throw it back in and let the fielding team “knock it back into shape.”
Players had to get on with it — no constant ball swapping, no delays.
Of course, some players knew how to bend the rules.
Andrew Flintoff, for instance, with those enormous hands, could squeeze a ball just enough to force a change. Clever? Maybe. Commonplace? Not at all.
When Stats Reveal the Bigger Picture
There’s also the matter of balance in the game.
Between overs 31 and 80 in this series, wickets have fallen at an average of 86.09 runs per wicket — the highest in England since ball-by-ball data began.
That’s a sign that the ball isn’t doing much during that period, and nobody wants a match that feels like it’s stacked in favour of the batters.
So yes, there’s some justification for raising concerns.
But there’s also a line — and right now, teams are crossing it way too easily.
Silence from Dukes, But The Internet Has Jokes
We tried reaching out to Dilip Jajodia — the man behind Dukes — but it seems he was “out with the duchess,” as the joke goes.
Meanwhile, fans online are having a field day.
As one user put it: “Smart move by Dukes to have their balls go useless after 10 overs.
That way, they sell eight times as many. Genius business strategy.”
Bottom Line? It’s All a Load of Balls
The cricket ball should never be the centre of attention — but that’s where we are.
Frequent ball changes are disrupting the game, confusing fans, and giving players too much wiggle room.
It’s time for the ICC and Dukes to get serious about the ball’s quality.
Because when the gear starts overshadowing the game, we’ve definitely lost the plot.
Until then, we’re stuck in a loop of stoppages, swapped balls, and yes — a whole lot of nonsense.