Should a ball from same manufacturer be used for international cricket in all the countries?

[Titan24]

Cricket is one of few team sports, if not the only team sport in which everything changes from one country to another from ground dimensions, pitch conditions and even ball in some countries.

While some of the factors might not be controllable at a large scale like ground dimensions, weather's influence on the pitch or something in the grey area like countries wanting favorable home conditions for bilateral (Adds variety to test cricket) etc. but, a cricket ball is something which can easily be an aspect that can potentially be standardized.

While all these slight variations sometimes add to the beauty of the game but, even without a different ball being used there are enough varying factors to maintain that aspect of the game in a right balance.

Dukes - Being used by England, Ireland and Westindies
SG Ball - Being used by India
Kookubura Ball - Used by all the rest (Aus, SA, NZ, Pak, Srl, BD, Afg)

What do you guys think? Why is there a need of different ball in every country and can one ball can be unanimously decided as the standard to be used all around?

 

[Markhor]

I've said for ages that the Dukes ball provides the best balance between bat and ball. There is nothing duller than batsmen filling their boots against the old Kookaburra on flat pitches.

People say you can't use the Dukes in dry, abrasive conditions but they've managed to make it work in the Caribbean.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

No. That would not be a good outcome. What we need are greater regulations and manufacturers given less leeway and to get cricket ball manufacturers to make cricket balls with very stringent rules about size, shape, weight, etc. and enforce them so that we don't see too many differences between the various makes.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Why monopolize ball manufacturing?

 

[UzmanBeast]

Why monopolize ball manufacturing?

It's not about monopolizing ball manufacturing, it's about fixing the state of test cricket around the world, as it is clearly dying. Subcontinent test matches are run-fests and lack any proper entertainment. The Dukes should be used worldwide, as it gives something for everyone. It will help make test cricket entertaining instead of on the verge of dying.

 

[Bhaijaan]

It's not about monopolizing ball manufacturing, it's about fixing the state of test cricket around the world, as it is clearly dying. Subcontinent test matches are run-fests and lack any proper entertainment. The Dukes should be used worldwide, as it gives something for everyone. It will help make test cricket entertaining instead of on the verge of dying.

Who is complaining? I am from subcontinent and I am very happy with the test cricket we have had in India for the last 5-6 years.

SG is best suited ball for Indian conditions anyway..

 

[Titan24]

Why monopolize ball manufacturing?

My point was if there should be standardized ball for international cricket irrespective of the country it is being played in. As we are seeing quite a few manufacturers with different balls in international cricket.

 

[Titan24]

I've said for ages that the Dukes ball provides the best balance between bat and ball. There is nothing duller than batsmen filling their boots against the old Kookaburra on flat pitches.

People say you can't use the Dukes in dry, abrasive conditions but they've managed to make it work in the Caribbean.

Dukes ball definitely provides more balance and experiment in Windies have been pretty successful.

 

[Bhaijaan]

A cricket ball is already standardized by the way.

 

[Titan24]

No. That would not be a good outcome. What we need are greater regulations and manufacturers given less leeway and to get cricket ball manufacturers to make cricket balls with very stringent rules about size, shape, weight, etc. and enforce them so that we don't see too many differences between the various makes.

Agreed and that was my point as well. I had to use "same manufacturer'" because every manufacturer's balls seems to be pretty different. If that can be standardized as a whole that it wont matter which manufacturer.

 

[Titan24]

A cricket ball is already standardized by the way.

In dimensions and weight? Because if you hear the players the feel of kookaburra, dukes and SG ball is pretty different. As viewer we also see varying style of behavior from each of them.

 

[shah_1]

Dukes ball definitely provides more balance and experiment in Windies have been pretty successful.

No one is stopping PCB from using dukes ball in their home matches.

 

[King_Kohli]

Dukes - Being used by England, Ireland and Westindies
SG Ball - Being used by India
Kookubura Ball - Used by all the rest (Aus, SA, NZ, Pak, Srl, BD, Afg)

I would like to know pros & cons of each type
And how this giving benefit to home team.

 

[Rana]

ICC is a coward organisation

They will not give one company to hold a monopoly on cricket ball income. If they pick Dukes, they will annoy the aussies. And if they pick Kookaburra, they will offend the posh English.

What they can do is let one format use Dukes all across the globe such as Tests, and let Kookaburra white cricket ball to be used in all ODI and T20 games.

 

[silentkiller187]

It’s not such a big deal, in pretty much all sports you will find balls made from various manufacturers used from tournament to tournament. The conditions are bound to differ because the balls are made in different factories and with different materials etc, however the actual specs of the ball will remain consistent and that is the main thing.

 

[MMHS]

I would like to know pros & cons of each type
And how this giving benefit to home team.

Best quality Dukes are hand stitched (that doesn’t mean someone sews the leather piece - it’s hand operated machines), with a very hard central core and burnished cow hide, that keeps shape and swing for long. It’s seam are mid range, but very high quality fibre that holds its life longer. It’s very good for English conditions because even on flattest of surfaces, in UK if there is cloud, ball will move and Dukes does move conventionally even after 60 overs.

SG balls are the India made, again hand stitched but with a pronounced seem - it moves lot with new ball, seems as well, but looses shine quickly. The advantage with this ball is, it great from spinners - pronounced seem helps finger spinners to grip, leather roughens up faster hence reverse swing comes in to play; often if batting side is in good position, fielding captain won’t take new ball because it’s tougher to score against old SG. It’s very typical Indian condition ball, but batting needs extra effort in wrists to score lot against old SG. This is a ball made in India, for India.

Kookaburra is automated machine made larger core ball, with low(est) seem, but high coated burnish on the leather makes it swing heavily when new. It’s the hardest ball and lasts long, can take the highest stress, but it’s low seem doesn’t help off the track movement once old and finger spinners won’t grip it well, hence once old the best use of this ball is heavy shoulders and bang on the surface from height - absolutely tailor made for Australia & SAF. While batting, once set batsmen can hit through the line and that old ball will come on to bat like synthetic ball on mosaic floor.

One interesting observation is that - there is a reason why big 3 is and will dominate cricket. They give lots of thought, analysis on their core game and from Test Match wicket to cricket ball - they have developed unique identity, hence they’ll dominate home series...... and PAK’s English/SAF coach tried to change their game with darters and posedu “all-rounders”. BCB made one blunder from their Aussie & SAF consultants - made a long term contract with Kookaburra for international & domestic games, otherwise we should have gone for SG long back, and it’s possible to produce that ball domestically as well.

Personally I am not with the idea of standardised Test ball - just like different surface gives unique challenges, Test cricket should be diversified with ball as well. It’s like producing identical golf courses or tennis courts - game will be monotonous.

 

[Titan24]

No one is stopping PCB from using dukes ball in their home matches.

True but kookaburra is prevalent in majority of the countries so having players used to that is also important to an extent. With different style of balls, it falls into grey area that whether one should be using a more prevalent one or the one which might possibly provide better balance overall.

 

[King_Kohli]

Best quality Dukes are hand stitched (that doesn’t mean someone sews the leather piece - it’s hand operated machines), with a very hard central core and burnished cow hide, that keeps shape and swing for long. It’s seam are mid range, but very high quality fibre that holds its life longer. It’s very good for English conditions because even on flattest of surfaces, in UK if there is cloud, ball will move and Dukes does move conventionally even after 60 overs.

SG balls are the India made, again hand stitched but with a pronounced seem - it moves lot with new ball, seems as well, but looses shine quickly. The advantage with this ball is, it great from spinners - pronounced seem helps finger spinners to grip, leather roughens up faster hence reverse swing comes in to play; often if batting side is in good position, fielding captain won’t take new ball because it’s tougher to score against old SG. It’s very typical Indian condition ball, but batting needs extra effort in wrists to score lot against old SG. This is a ball made in India, for India.

Kookaburra is automated machine made larger core ball, with low(est) seem, but high coated burnish on the leather makes it swing heavily when new. It’s the hardest ball and lasts long, can take the highest stress, but it’s low seem doesn’t help off the track movement once old and finger spinners won’t grip it well, hence once old the best use of this ball is heavy shoulders and bang on the surface from height - absolutely tailor made for Australia & SAF. While batting, once set batsmen can hit through the line and that old ball will come on to bat like synthetic ball on mosaic floor.

One interesting observation is that - there is a reason why big 3 is and will dominate cricket. They give lots of thought, analysis on their core game and from Test Match wicket to cricket ball - they have developed unique identity, hence they’ll dominate home series...... and PAK’s English/SAF coach tried to change their game with darters and posedu “all-rounders”. BCB made one blunder from their Aussie & SAF consultants - made a long term contract with Kookaburra for international & domestic games, otherwise we should have gone for SG long back, and it’s possible to produce that ball domestically as well.

Personally I am not with the idea of standardised Test ball - just like different surface gives unique challenges, Test cricket should be diversified with ball as well. It’s like producing identical golf courses or tennis courts - game will be monotonous.

Nice explanation bro, thank you.

Why don't Pakistan play with SG ball?
You mentioned SG ball offers reverse swing and good for spinners as well.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Who is complaining? I am from subcontinent and I am very happy with the test cricket we have had in India for the last 5-6 years.

SG is best suited ball for Indian conditions anyway..

SG is a good ball manufacturing company, perhaps it is my observation relating to Pakistan cricket and the Kookaburra ball that is used. 555/3 vs Sri Lanka in an innings is just an example of the run-fests that I am speaking about.

The reason I'd say standardize the ball that is used is so that away tours can actually become more evenly poised. At the moment, do you think Sri Lanka can go to England and compete? They might win 1 match, or even draw 1, but aside from that, I don't see them having high chances. By having a standard ball, players all around the world will have practice and know what the ball can do and what it's limitations are. It would make test cricket in away tours much more evenly poised, in my opinion.

 

[Mamoon]

No. These variations add to the beauty of the game.

 

[MenInG]

No. These variations add to the beauty of the game.

agree

ball making is an art and every artist has his own style - so let there be different balls to be used.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Football/Soccer use different footballs for different leagues, and they also have varying pitch dimensions, this is the same.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Subcontinent teams shouldn't use Kookaburra. Pakistan,SL,BD,Afg should use Dukes or SG.

Kookaburra is poor in Asian conditions.

 

[Titan24]

No. These variations add to the beauty of the game.

agree

ball making is an art and every artist has his own style - so let there be different balls to be used.

Football/Soccer use different footballs for different leagues, and they also have varying pitch dimensions, this is the same.

Fair enough. Definitely adds variety to the game.

 

[Titan24]

Subcontinent teams shouldn't use Kookaburra. Pakistan,SL,BD,Afg should use Dukes or SG.

Kookaburra is poor in Asian conditions.

If I am not wrong SG ball did come under criticism from some Indian players in recent times with regards to the current quality.

 

[Titan24]

In 2018 Kohli came in big support of dukes ball to be used all around in test cricket. Though I agree with the posts that the ball also adds a necessity variety to the game.

 

[Last Monetarist]

The changes to the Kookaburra ball explained ahead of the Australian summer:

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[hoshiarpurexpress]

It adds variety to game, like different conditions in different countries combined with the the bowls.
Cricket is unique sport that way, and it makes it more interesting.