England and Wales Cricket Board's managing director Rob Key has supported the use of Australian-made Kookaburra balls in their domestic cricket set-up to prepare their young and rising players with the international standards and he believes it will help them get better. Key said that Duke balls used in England receive a lot of movement and their pacers do not find the same help once they represent the English side at the international level.
The England board started the trial of Kookaburra balls in the County championship. Key has backed its use for the entirety of the County season. The former English skipper has been a prominent figure in bringing several changes to the England cricket set-up. He was the man behind Brendon McCullum's appointment as the English red-ball coach.
"I think it's been fantastic," said Key. "You see what four-day cricket is meant to be. I've watched quite a bit this week and seen some bloody good cricket. I would use the Kookaburra all the time. English cricket would be much better off for it," Key told the Guardian.
"The weather has got in the way at times and seven of those nine matches [in round two] could have seen a result. But county cricket is meant to go four days. This week has shown it's rewarding the right type of players. Cricket is about watching pace bowlers, spinners and really good batting. Four days is about the journey," the ECB managing director further added.
Rob Key on medium-pacers' impact on slow pitches
Key made a stunning remark and said that watching medium pacers on the slow pitches was a waste of time and instead demanded the fast bowlers to get better with the use of their pace and bounce.
"The pitches are slow this time of year but watching medium pacers is a waste of time," said Key. "Teams need to find quicker bowlers or ones who will force a wicket. You can't just keep running up bowling at 75mph. And in terms of those guys who are not express, you really work out who can bowl. Sam Cook, that was seriously impressive what he did," said Key.
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