TimesofIndia.com in London: The Dukes ball has come under heavy scrutiny from players and media alike throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The debate resurfaced during the third Test at Lord’s when Shubman Gill was repeatedly seen approaching the umpire to have the ball checked. The umpires were frequently seen putting the ball through the gauge—sometimes it was rejected, sometimes replaced. This process played out several times during the first session, largely due to the ball losing its shape.In fact, on Day 2 morning alone, the Dukes ball was changed twice. After a 10-over-old ball was replaced, the Indian players still expressed their dissatisfaction, prompting another change within minutes.Even before the Lord’s Test, captain Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant had voiced their concerns about the Dukes ball going soft and losing shape far too often.
Amidst the controversy, England’s Joe Root appeared to take a subtle jab at India, saying that teams must learn to adapt to the challenge.“The summer has been hot, the squares are harder. No two balls are the same. You’ve got to adapt and take it as a challenge, not keep asking for a change,” Root said after the day’s play.
Root, who followed up his century with a record-setting catch, played a key role alongside Jofra Archer—who made a successful return with a wicket—as England dominated Day 2.England posted 387 in their first innings, and in reply, India reached 145 for 3 at stumps, trailing by 242 runs.“I think it’s a good score. It’s already hot, dry, and very slow. We have crucial runs on the board. There’s always something to work with here… even if the ball goes soft,” Root added.
