Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has sparked fresh debate around the quality of the Dukes ball used in the ongoing India vs England Test series, dramatically claiming he would rather "play rugby" with one of the rejected balls used during the third Test at Lord's.
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India vs England 3rd TestThe third Test has seen multiple ball changes across the first two innings, with players from both sides voicing their concerns about the ball going out of shape too quickly. After Day 3, the discussion found its way into the Sky Sports, where Broad, alongside Michael Atherton, examined one of the balls deemed unfit for play.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Atherton began by questioning the decision to change it: "Got a ball from this game that was changed. That one did not go through the gauge and was deemed to be unsuitable. Now, my view is that that's a perfectly good ball to bowl with... I think they're being precious on that point. What do you think?"
Broad though didn't hold back: "Well, I'm outnumbered with three batters and one bowler. I would play rugby with that. I'd be rolling that to the umpire and it would sort of go, bonk, bonk, bonk. I mean, the reason it's out of shape is because it's soft and I can squeeze that. I can squeeze that even more out of shape."
He added that such balls become ineffective for both bowlers and batters alike: "It gets a bit of an ugly shape on the top. When that's hitting the pitch and the surface, it's just dying on the surface. It's not going to react off the surface. You need the harness of the seam to grip and move... even to be able to play a lovely cover drive and hit the ball for four."
Highlighting the change in playing conditions over time, Broad noted: "It's frustrating for a batter when you hit it through the covers... it rolls for two or three when it should've gone for four. First 10 years of my career, I can't remember changing a ball ever. It's a new thing. Maybe the ball quality, in my opinion. Yes."
The Dukes ball is now under the scanner - and Broad's blunt assessment has only intensified scrutiny.
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India vs England Test match here.
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