The Dukes ball continues to make headlines for the wrong reasons this Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. In the last two Tests both India and England seamers have complained about the ball not swinging as much as it used to before and there have been also instances where they have requested for a ball change saying it gets softer way earlier than usual. While Day 1 of the third Test went without any drama with regards to the ball – it even swung late into second session, on Day 2 the same old issues cropped up.
India, which had taken the second new ball late on Day 1, took three wickets at the start of Day 2 with their seamers finding movement both ways. Jasprit Bumrah got one to nip back to take Ben Stokes off-stump while Joe Root and Chris Woakes too perished to deliveries that found movement before the umpires changed the new ball after Indian players seemed to have an issue with it. It isn’t clear why India requested for a ball change when they were finding movement, but the replacement ball which was around 10 overs old, soon became problematic for India. It appeared the ball was older than they thought, with the Indian players being visibly upset about its condition. Skipper Shubman Gill was seen having an animated discussion with Sharfudduola Saikat who asked India to carry on with the proceedings.
Captain Gill is not too convinced about the condition of the ball 😶 #SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings pic.twitter.com/XmdQiSxQJd
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 11, 2025
On air, Sunil Gavaskar would observe that the changed ball looks older than it looks. “It looks like 20 over-old ball,” he would lament on air. However, the new ball soon became a topic of discussion again. Before the 95th over began, with the seamers not finding any movement whatsoever, Gill would take the ball to Sharfudduola, asking for a change. It will lead to the Indian captain and the umpire having a heated discussion, and Sharfudduola was unmoved, gesturing India to resume the over. Mohammed Siraj too appeared miffed, walking up and asking the umpire, “Are you serious,” which was picked up by the stump mics.
The cricket ball should be like a fine wicket keeper. Barely noticed. We are having to talk about the ball too much because it is such an issue & being changed virtually every innings. Unacceptable. Feels like it’s been 5 years now.
Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it. A…— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) July 11, 2025
And after four deliveries into the 99th over, Gill would once more walk upto the umpires asking for the ball to be tested through the ring. And after the ball didn’t pass through the rings, another ball change, this time inside 8 overs, was mandated. This time India appeared happy, but the drama surrounding the Dukes ball refused to go away.
Former England seamer would take to X to post his thoughts. “The cricket ball should be like a fine wicket keeper. Barely noticed. We are having to talk about the ball too much because it is such an issue & being changed virtually every innings. Unacceptable. Feels like it’s been 5 years now. Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it. A ball should last 80 overs. Not 10.”
