The Ashes 2019: ECB Decides To Use The Older Dukes Balls

May 10, 2019 at 10:53 AM

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The Ashes 2019: ECB Decides To Use The Older Dukes Balls

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has recently decided to use the older Dukes cricket balls in the 2019 home Test matches.

After the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, England will be busy in the home Ashes series against Australia. This five-match Test series will run from 1st August to 16th September 2019.

Dukes balls, ECB, Ashes series, Ashley Giles
Ashes trophy (Image Source: Google)

Before that giant Test series, England will play one home Test against Ireland at Lord’s (London) that will begin on 24th July. It will be the first Test match between England and Ireland.

For the ongoing English County Championship, ECB has introduced the smaller seam balls to provide a better balance between bat and ball. However, ECB has recently decided to continue the past two seasons’ Dukes balls in this season’s home Test matches.

Ashley Giles, the former English left-arm spinner and the present ECB managing director, has recently claimed that they want to ensure a fair contest between bat and ball.

Dukes balls, ECB, Ashes series, Ashley Giles
Ashley Giles (Image Credit: Google)

When Giles was asked about this strategy to fully utilise the home advantage, he replied, “People will say that, but that’s why we want to be on the front foot. We didn’t want to appear as though we were doing this underhandedly.”

I’ve spoken to Cricket Australia, they were fine – Ashley Giles

Giles has also revealed that the Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket Ireland have agreed with their decision to continue the same Dukes balls in Test cricket. He also reminded that Australia has an excellent pace bowling line-up in the present time. Their frontline pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all are very reputed bowlers in international cricket.

Dukes balls, ECB, Ashes series, Ashley Giles
Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc

Giles added, “I’ve spoken to Cricket Australia, they were fine, and I’ve spoken to Cricket Ireland (who play at Lord’s in July).

“It’s not as though we’re talking about playing against a bowling attack that isn’t very good.

“The Aussies are quite handy themselves.

“There are elements of risk in choosing to go with this other ball. But clearly Jimmy Anderson is one of our best weapons, one of the best bowlers who has ever played the game, and we want to bring him into the game.

“We just want to be up front and honest.”

Ashley Giles also revealed the issue with the present Dukes balls

Australia will play the upcoming Ashes series as the defending title holders. They won the previous Ashes series (2017/18) in the home (by the 4-0 margin). However, they haven’t won an Ashes series in England since 2001. In the recent home Ashes series since 2005, England has dominated over their arch-rivals Australia.

Giles further claimed that the latest modified Dukes balls are too batter-friendly, especially on good Test wickets.

He said, “Test cricket has definitely sped up in the last few years but it’s not about having a two-day game.

“It’s about having a fair contest. My concern was that this 2019 ball would make conditions too batter-friendly on good Test wickets in the middle of summer.”

England and Wales are currently busy to host the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. It will be the 12th edition of Cricket World Cup that will run from 30th May to 14th July. The host side England will participate along with nine other top teams in this competition.

After completion of that tournament, England will play the home Test series.

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