Duke balls in Aus domestic cricket

[fairdinkum]

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/dukes-balls-for-ashes-practice-20121023-283gw.html

CRICKET Australia is plotting to deprive England of a crucial competitive advantage on future Ashes tours by introducing the Dukes ball to domestic cricket.

The Dukes cricket ball, used for Tests in England, behaves differently from the Kookaburra used in most countries including Australia and, in the hands of England's pacemen defeated Australia on the two most recent Ashes tours.

Dukes will be trialled in under-age championships and some second-XI games this summer, to see if they can withstand harsh Australian conditions, with the intention of eventually employing them for some rounds of the Sheffield Shield to prepare players for Ashes combat.

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/dukes-balls-for-ashes-practice-20121023-283gw.html

The article also makes the point that the use of Dukes in Australia might help reduce costs for grassroots clubs/associations, as many of them currently outlay significant amounts of money on Kookaburras each season.

I've never used a Duke or a Platypus in a match (not that I can recall, anyway, and certainly not at senior level).

What are peoples thoughts on this move?

 

[Hellgood]

I dunno about this. Seems a bit pointless, so long as the test squad is using them to train and practice and plays a few first class games against English County sides before the tests begin, then I don't think we need to bother changing the shield up.

Not saying that it will be a bad thing, just that it's probably pointless.

 

[Selective Retention]

How much of it is down to the ball and how much of it is down to the English conditions?

Could see some crazy shield routs at the Gabba if most of it is down to the ball.....

 

[Ill Chicken]

Dukes are unlikely to last as long in Australian conditions. A more pronounced seam but less consistent than a Kooka but will go average pretty quick. Using a Platypus swings for about five overs at best and is generally rubbish. Literally had balls replaced in the game with the seam breaking off. Their coloured balls are no match for a Kooka as well.

I don't see the point, the issue isn't the ball and saying it is shows a pretty poor mentality. You think the English started using Kookas in their county matches?

 

[Mancey]

Worth a crack for sure

 

[Beetlebum]

We haven't had a decent swing bowler for years so it won't make any difference if the Duke swings more or less than a Kookaburra.

What balls did the English use to rout us 3-1 in 2010/11?

 

[fairdinkum]

What balls did the English use to rout us 3-1 in 2010/11?

Short ones at Hughes, full ones at the other ten.