ENG vs IND 2025: Manufacturer to review Dukes ball after recent concerns raised

The ongoing Test series between England and India has triggered controversy around the quality of the Dukes ball, with several players, including India captain Shubman Gill, raising concerns. Following repeated complaints and multiple ball changes during matches, British Cricket Balls Ltd, the manufacturer of Dukes, has announced a full investigation into the issue.

Used traditionally in England, the Dukes ball is known for its ability to be hard and generate movement over long spells. However, during the current five-match Test series, both England and India have had to replace the ball several times due to it going soft or losing shape, well before the 80-over mark when a new ball is allowed. India skipper Gill, after the second Test at Edgbaston, opened up about the quality of the ball.

"It is very difficult for the bowlers. I think more than the wicket, maybe the ball is out of shape very quickly. It gets soft very quickly. I don't know what it is, whether it is wickets or whatever. It is difficult for the bowlers. It is very difficult to get a wicket in such conditions, when there is nothing there," Gill had said after the match.

In reply to the criticism, Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, told BBC Sport that his company will conduct a thorough review of the manufacturing process. 

"We will take it away, inspect, and then start talking to the tanner, talking about all of the raw materials - everything. Everything we do will be reviewed, and then if we think some changes need to be made or tightened up, we will," said Jajodia.

ECB involves itself in resolving issue

He accepted that natural raw materials and manual processes involved in making the Dukes ball can sometimes result in quality issues. Factors like changes in leather tanning chemicals post-COVID, variations in cattle hides, and fewer qualified tanners have led to the challenge. Jajodia mentioned the need for changes rather than complete restructuring.

"I spend my life almost producing these balls and I personally pick the balls for each game and when you look at them and they are new they look like works of art, they really are. They're wonderful. But what you don't know is what it's going to do when it's actually taking hammer and that's the problem with the product," he said.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is also involved in resolving the issue. It plans to collect used balls from the first three Tests and return them to Dukes for testing. Conversations about the ball's effectiveness have increased, especially after five ball changes occurred during England's first innings at Lord’s, with one being switched after just 10.2 overs.