The Hundred 2025: ECB replaces controversial Kookaburra balls with standard units

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has come under scrutiny for introducing a controversial batch of white Kookaburra balls during the 2024 edition of The Hundred, which many players believe contributed to unusually low scoring. The decision drew widespread criticism from players, citing the ball’s inconsistent behaviour and its impact on run rates.

In the men’s competition, the scoring rate dropped to 1.37 runs per ball, notably lower than other short-format leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Major League Cricket (MLC), and SA20, despite The Hundred’s format theoretically encouraging more aggressive batting.

Bowlers like Daniel Worrall and Tim Southee benefited significantly under these conditions. Players speculated that the issue lay with the specific batch of balls, which featured a large ‘H’ logo requiring extra lacquer. This reportedly gave the ball a 'plasticky' feel, affecting how it came off the bat and making stroke play more difficult.

"The seam seems to be massive. Every game, it seems the ball is nipping. Most teams are 30 for 5 in most games,” said Moeen Ali told the Cricketer as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Kookaburra, the makers of the ball, maintained that the white balls used in the 2024 edition of the tournament were manufactured to the same specifications as those used in other domestic and international competitions, aside from the addition of the tournament’s logo. Meanwhile, the ECB commissioned an extensive study over the winter, which found minimal evidence that the balls performed differently compared to those used in other white-ball formats across England and Wales.

However, ball-tracking data did indicate a noticeable increase in seam movement and swing during the early stages of matches in the 2023 season, continuing into 2024. Analysts attributed this trend primarily to external factors such as pitch conditions, weather, and the format itself, which permits bowlers to deliver 15 of the first 20 balls in an innings, rather than any inherent changes in the ball's construction.

Standard, unbranded balls opted

Despite the findings, the ECB has decided to move away from the branded ‘Hundred’ balls, opting instead for the standard batch used in the T20 Blast beginning with the 2025 season. The decision comes in response to sustained negative feedback from players, with the board hoping that the change will not only address concerns over ball behaviour but also boost scoring rates by reducing perceived advantages for bowlers.

Nonetheless, the switch made little impact in the opening match of the 2025 season. London Spirit were bowled out for just 80 runs by Oval Invincibles, on a slow, low surface. The star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, on debut for the two-time defending champions, conceded the pitch was difficult to bat on and finished with impressive figures of 3 for 11.