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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has also thrown his cap into the Dukes Ball controversy during the third Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at the iconic Lord's Stadium in England. Dukes ball is currently making headlines in the ongoing five-Test match series between India and England because of its shelf life. The ball is getting softer early, which is making it tough for the bowlers to bowl.
Shastri, who is doing commentary duties in the third Test match between India and England at Lord's Stadium in England, questioned the umpires for keeping disfigured balls in their box. The incident happened on Day 3 when KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were batting. After 55 overs, the two umpires select one from the box and hand it over to Woakes. Before handing over to the England seamer, umpires tried five balls, but they failed to pass the gauge Test. After witnessing that, Shastri didn't mince his words and asked why they are keeping disfigured balls in their box.
"Now, I have to say, this is frankly ridiculous, because if they decided to change the ball, why was that not decided at the start of the drinks break, so this procedure could have taken place like three minutes ago. We waited for the entirety of the drinks break, we should be playing agains now, and now the umpires decided to change the ball," Ward said on-air.
"I could not agree more. It is common sense what you are saying. It's basic. It's hard to explain, really hard to explain. Did they forget to check the ball? What's quite amazing there is that they checked five balls there, and five of them did not go through the ring. So, why are they in the box in the first place?" Shastri added.
Earlier, after Day 2 of the ongoing Test, India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up a fifer in the first innings, also answered on the quality of the ball, where the speedster said that his team just bowled with whatever ball was provided and accepted it as part of the game. Recalling his previous tour, Bumrah noted a clear difference in quality, recalling how the Dukes ball in 2018 held its shape better and offered consistent swing throughout. He pointed out that the current balls are going soft quickly, especially due to the dry conditions, which is making it easier for batters.
"The ball changes, I don't really control that. Obviously, I don't want to lose out on money because I work very hard and play a lot of overs. So, I don't want to say any controversial statements and get my match fees deducted. But we were bowling with the ball that we were given. And that's how it is. We can't change it. We can't fight it. Sometimes it goes your way. Sometimes you get a bad ball. That's how it is," Bumrah told reporters in a press conference at the end of the day's play.
Coming back to the third Test, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have shifted the momentum of the game after England picked up three wickets on Day 2 of the clash.
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