The manufacturer of the revered Dukes ball, British Cricket Balls Ltd, has assured fans and players alike that a comprehensive review is underway following mounting criticism from the first three England–India Tests. Complaints have centred on the ball softening unusually fast, reducing its traditional favour to seamers.
India’s Test captain, Shubman Gill, voiced strong concerns after Edgbaston, claiming the ball “went soft far too quickly,’’ shifting the balance toward batters. The sentiment echoed across the series, with complaints from both teams and analysts noting that the Dukes ball wasn’t offering its usual reliable swing and seam movement.
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad also joined the chorus, joking he’d “rather play rugby” with the ball than bowl with it—and warning that persistent quality issues threatened the integrity of the sport. Broad called for urgent action to preserve Test cricket’s competitive balance.
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Responding, owner Dilip Jajodia told BBC Sport that every aspect of production—leather grade, tanning, stitching—would be scrutinised. “We will take it away, inspect … then … talk to the tanner … everything will be reviewed,” he vowed.
After widespread criticism of the match balls used in the first three Tests between England and India, the manufacturer will review the Dukes ball.#INDvsENG2025 #IndvsengTEST https://t.co/JL8kZHhuhE
— News9 (@News9Tweets) July 18, 2025
Observers wonder whether this softness stems from deliberate changes to favour batters or reflects a manufacturing failure. Some point to this January’s unusually hot English summer and flatter pitches—factors that can accelerate wear and alter seam shape (The Guardian). Ball consistency has come under fresh scrutiny, but the crucial question is whether adjustments can be made before the fourth Test in Manchester on July 23.
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Despite concerns, the first three Tests produced definitive results, and the series remains tight. Whether a renegotiated manufacturing process or pitch adjustments await is unclear. Still, the pressure is firmly on Dukes to restore that meticulous balance between bat and ball.
