Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his thoughts on the use of a single ball for Test cricket. He further said that it might affect the game and it would be “unfortunate” if the suggestion is taken seriously. By saying this, he literally slammed MCC’s recommendation. However,  The World Cricket Committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has proposed this to start using it in the inaugural World Test Championship, which will take place after the World Cup.

“Now we are hearing that they (MCC) are taking about standardising the ball, you might as well standardize the pitches, you might as well standardise the bat, you might as well standardise everything…What’s the big deal in playing cricket… (there is this) whole idea of going overseas and winning… because you are playing in different conditions,” said Sunil Gavaskar at the launch of ‘So Sorry Gully Cricket’ app.

“That (MCC) World Committee is like Cricket Club of India or the National Cricket Club in Kolkata or Madras Cricket Club in Chennai. It is pretty similar to that, the MCC is saying our committee should (be) listened to (more than the) ICC Committee. And unfortunately, a lot of people take them seriously,” Gavaskar further he added.

Read here: Former New Zealand cricketer Luke Woodcock retires from international cricket

Currently, India uses SG ball, England and the West Indies use dukes, and Kookaburra is used in other countries which included Australia and South Africa. Meanwhile, the players also expressed their thoughts and India captain Virat Kohli and the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin chose the red Dukes only.

Gavaskar further explained, “I personally feel, the whole idea of cricket is the different conditions that you get. You get different conditions from ‘gully’ to ‘gully’ (street to street), leave aside country to country or city to city. One gully there might be something, which is just across, you can’t hit the straight ball, there might be a policeman there, there might a fish vendor coming there (while the play is on), which might not happen in next gully, so you cannot standardize.”

Also read: Delhi Capitals Appointed Sourav Ganguly As An Advisor Ahead Of IPL 2019

“The whole idea of cricket and why players are recognised as being good or great is when they do well overseas, unfamiliar conditions,” Gavaskar, the former captain added again.