Cricket Australia (CA) has decided not to use Dukes balls in the upcoming season of Sheffield Shield. Let us tell you that CA had used Dukes balls along with Kookaburra for four seasons. Cricket Australia confirmed that Kookaburra balls will be used for the entire first class season of 2020-21. Australia had been using Dukes balls in Sheffield matches since the 2016–17 season to help their cricketers prepare for England's difficult conditions.
Cricket Australia's Head of Cricket Operations, Peter Roach welcomed the decision of not using Dukes balls. Roach said that using Dukes balls was a worthwhile endeavor, especially given the Ashes series in England where our opponent uses Dukes balls."
He further said, "However, we believe that by using only one type of ball in the 2020-21 season, our players will face constant challenge throughout the season and CA, Provincial Union also want to do so now." Kookaburra ball is used in international cricket in Australia and in many parts of the world and we see advantages of using this ball.
Roach said that spinners' influence in first-class cricket has declined in recent years and played a key role in the decision of not using the Dukes ball.
"We found that the spin bowlers' role in the Sheffield Shield has declined in some recent seasons, especially in matches where the Dukes balls were used," he added. We want the role of spinners in first-class cricket and also want our batsmen to face the spinners. I hope that using only one ball will have a positive effect in this case. Roach, however, said that the Dukes balls could be reused in the future.
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