ENG vs IND Lord’s Test: Dukes Ball Controversy

The Dukes ball, traditionally used for Test matches in England, has faced criticism during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. With dry conditions in England this summer, bowlers have struggled to take wickets on flat pitches. Both teams requested a ball change in the first two Tests due to the Dukes ball becoming soft quickly. Despite the manufacturer's defense, India's vice-captain Rishabh Pant expressed frustration over the ball's deformation.

Pant mentioned, 'In this series, I have seen the ball getting deformed too much. It’s irritating for the players because every ball plays differently.' He highlighted the challenge for batters in adjusting to the ball's changing behavior, calling it unfavorable for cricket.

India captain Shubman Gill and English counterpart Ben Stokes also raised concerns about the Dukes ball's quality. Stokes acknowledged the common issue of the ball going soft and out of shape, emphasizing the need to adapt to the situation. The issue was evident at Edgbaston and has affected all bowling attacks in the series.