Cricket pundit Ravi Shastri expressed strong frustration over a series of faulty replacement balls during the India vs. England Test at Lord’s, raising questions about the quality of equipment on display.
Shastri Slams Faulty Balls
During Day 3 of the Lord’s Test, a heated moment unfolded when umpires had to check replacement cricket balls. The standard procedure involves using a ‘ball gauge’; if the ball slips through, it’s deemed fit, but if it gets stuck, a new one is required.
Ravi Shastri, observing from the commentary box, was visibly annoyed. He noted that five balls from the designated replacement box failed the gauge test. This led him to question why these unsuitable balls were even stored in the official kit in the first place.
“It’s hard to explain. What’s quite amazing is that they checked 5 balls there and five of them did not go through the ring, so why are they in the box in the first place?” Shastri remarked, highlighting the inefficiency and time wasted during the process.
Dukes Ball Quality Under Scrutiny
This incident isn’t isolated. Over the last two Tests, both Indian and English seamers have openly complained about the Dukes ball’s performance. They claim it isn’t swinging as much as it traditionally does and tends to soften much earlier than expected.
While Day 1 of the third Test saw no major issues, with the ball swinging even into the second session, Day 2 brought back all the familiar problems. The consistency and quality of the Dukes ball have become a recurring point of contention among players and pundits alike.
A Day of Frustration on the Field
India, having taken the second new ball late on Day 1, started Day 2 with a burst of three wickets, with their seamers finding good movement. Jasprit Bumrah notably bowled Ben Stokes with a delivery that nipped back, while Joe Root and Chris Woakes also fell to moving balls.
Despite this success, the umpires changed the new ball after Indian players expressed concerns. The exact reason for India’s request remains unclear, especially as they were finding movement. However, the replacement ball, which appeared to be around 10 overs old, quickly became problematic for the Indian team.
Indian captain Shubman Gill was seen having an animated discussion with umpire Sharfudduola Saikat about the ball’s condition, clearly upset that it seemed older than anticipated. Later, before the 95th over, with the seamers unable to find any movement, Gill again approached Sharfudduola, requesting another change.
The umpire remained unmoved, gesturing for India to continue play, leading to a heated exchange. Mohammed Siraj’s frustration was evident as he walked up to the umpire and was heard asking, “Are you serious?” over the stump mics, underscoring the team’s growing annoyance.
- Ravi Shastri criticized officials after five replacement balls failed a quality test.
- Players from both India and England have consistently complained about Dukes balls losing swing and softening quickly.
- Multiple ball changes and animated player-umpire discussions marred Day 2 of the Lord’s Test.
- The incidents highlight ongoing concerns about equipment quality affecting the game’s flow.
The persistent issues with ball quality continue to be a talking point, impacting game flow and player satisfaction in crucial Test matches.
