'These Duke balls are not doing anything like as much as old': Michael Vaughan's unique observation in WTC final's first session goes viral

On June 7, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first in the gloomy conditions of Kennington Oval, London. Indian bowlers troubled Australian top order with the movement they got on and off the pitch. Mohammed Siraj struck early as he set up Usman Khawaja well. On other occasions, Indian bowlers were unlucky as the ball missed the outside edge. As the first session did not see many wickets fall, former England skipper Michael Vaughan made a unique observation about the Duke ball used in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. 
 

“Ominous signs … D Warner looks in the mood … !! These Duke balls are not doing anything like as much as old Duke balls,” Vaughan wrote in a tweet as the first session was underway. 

How Duke ball is different

The Duke ball has a more pronounced seam compared to the Kookaburra used in Australia and SG balls used in India. Hence, the Duke ball moves around a lot compared to the other two. Vaughan felt that the ball used in WTC final did not move around much as David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne shared a crucial 69-run partnership for the second wicket and played out the new ball. 
 

However, the partnership was finally broken in the 22nd over of the first session by Shardul Thakur. Warner was lured into a pull shot but all he could manage was an edge to wicketkeeper KS Bharat who dived to his right to take the catch. Thakur got the prized wicket as Warner scored 43 runs at a strike rate of 71.67 from 60 deliveries.
 

Labuschagne stood his ground despite copping a blow from Siraj due to extra bounce. The no.1 ranked Test batter scored 26 runs from 61 deliveries. 
 

Rohit pays heed to Vaughan's advice

Before the WTC final, Vaughan had given an advice to Rohit to bowl first if he wins the toss against Pat Cummins. 
 

“It will play very very well .. and will get better & better so I would bowl first .. especially if clouds are around tomorrow,” Vaughan had tweeted on June 7. 
 

Rohit obliged and made one big decision as he benched no.1 ranked Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin to include an extra pacer in the side. 
 

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