England captain Joe Root has raised suspicions that manufacturer Dukes may have altered the composition of its red leather balls, making them stay firmer for a longer period during Test matches. He believes this could be one of the key reasons behind the unusually low scores seen throughout the ongoing Test series against Pakistan, where not a single batter has managed to score a century across the first two Tests.
England’s total of 409 in the first innings of the opening Test in Leeds stands as one of only two scores crossing 400 this entire summer, the other being New Zealand’s 438 in the series-deciding third Test at Trent Bridge. Pakistan, on the other hand, have not even managed to cross 200 in any of their four innings so far, struggling badly against the pace and bounce generated by Ollie Robinson who now holds an incredible bowling average of just 8.34 in the series. Joe Root himself hasn’t had the smoothest time with the bat either, managing only 94 runs across three innings against Pakistan.
Speaking about his theory, Joe Root explained that he feels the balls used this year have been noticeably different, suggesting they may have a different type of coating applied to them. He admitted he didn’t have concrete proof and would need to check with Dukes directly but felt there was a different kind of finish along the seam, possibly designed to help the ball hold its shape for longer and avoid being changed during play.
This coating, known as lacquer, is a synthetic liquid sprayed onto the leather to give the ball a smooth, shiny and protective finish. Besides protecting the seam, it also helps the ball swing better by improving how smoothly it moves through the air, a key feature of the traditional Dukes red ball.
Joe Root further explained that the balls seem to be a lot firmer than usual and if they end up creating small dents or marks on the pitch, that could cause the ball to move more off those rough patches once it hits the seam. He acknowledged that sometimes conditions during an English summer align in a particular way – overcast skies, a bit of rain and now possibly a slightly different ball, all making batting tougher than usual. Still, he noted that dealing with such challenges is simply part of what makes Test cricket the ultimate test of skill.
Does any other cricketer also feel the same?
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