After Cricket Australia (CA) introduced Dukes cricket balls in Sheffield Shield to experiment on Australia pitches in a bid to prepare for the 2019 Ashes campaign, the domestic players seem happy with the new ball and few have even urged the board to replace Kookaburra ball with Dukes in domestic cricket as a long-term policy.
“I think the Dukes is a far superior cricket ball to the Kookaburra in terms of the quality of contest between bat and ball,” the Australian left-handed Test batsman Ed Cowan was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
However, the head of Cricket Operations for Australia, Sean Cary, said the players at domestic level have given a positive feedback after the use of Dukes at the country level competition.
South Australia’s fast bowler Chadd Sayers also bowled with the Dukes before expressing his satisfaction over the pitches, which are considered batting friendly.
“It was hard to control early when the lacquer was on the ball, and a few swung down leg side,” Sayers said.
In the recent past, Australian batters have struggled in the seam and swing conditions, particularly during their Ashes campaign in England.
“But you just have to find a way to make it work for you which we did eventually, and after that we got it in the right areas. It (the Dukes ball) stays harder for longer which is great for a bowler,” Sayers added.
Kane Richardson and Sayers claimed nine wickets each before Simon Mackin picked domestic career best of seven for 81 followed by a five-wicket haul.
Duke balls, which are used traditionally in county cricket, swing more than the local Australian Kookaburra ball.
Queensland bowler Michael Neser and Western Australian Simon Mackin bowled magnificently in the three games before echoing the words of Sayers.
“Michael [Neser] with his impact and his speed and the fact that he swings it both ways is very dangerous with the Dukes ball. We’ve got Mark Steketee, who is very good with the Dukes ball,” Joe Burns said on Neser.
After a win over Tasmania by 133 runs, the Queensland wicket-keeper batsman opined to make wickets either equal for the bat and ball contest or go for Dukes to give a leeway to the bowlers.
“You either make the wickets a little more sporting to even up the contest and go back to the Kookaburras, or you keep the Dukes and you allow bowlers to have a little bit more out of the hand,” Hartley revealed.
The handmade Dukes are considered lighter than the Kookaburra and smaller in size. The darker red in complexion, Duke balls swing more in England conditions that seemingly has prompted Cricket Australia to experiment with it in Shield competition.