Cricket Australia Decides To Use Only Kookaburra Balls In 2020-21 Sheffield Shield, Duke Balls Dropped

CA’s Head of Cricket Operations Peter Roach hailed the cricket board's decision, stating that it was the right time to revert back to exclusive use of the Kookaburra for the first class competition.

Kookabura Balls (Image AFP/Getty)

In a bid to encourage spin bowling on domestic tracks in Australia, Cricket Australia dropped the British-made Dukes ball from its upcoming 2020/21 Sheffield Shield season with matches being only played with the Kookaburra balls. The Dukes made their into the Australian domestic cricket fold in the 2016/17 Sheffield Shield season to help prepare Australia’s batsmen get accustomed and conditioned to play the ball, which was used on English pitches in the leadup to the 2019 Ashes. Tim Paine-led Australia retained the urn after they secured a 2-2 draw in a hard fought Ashes Series against traditional rivals England in their backyard for the first time since 2001. CA’s Head of Cricket Operations Peter Roach hailed the cricket board's decision, stating that it was the right time to revert back to exclusive use of the Kookaburra for the first class competition. “The introduction of the Dukes ball has been a worthwhile exercise, particularly in the lead up to overseas Ashes series where the Dukes is used so well by our English opponents,” Roach said in a statement. “We have noted that spin bowlers in the ... Sheffield Shield have been playing less of a role in recent seasons, most notably in games when the Dukes ball is in use. “We need spinners bowling in first class cricket and we need our batters facing spin. We hope that the change to one ball with have a positive benefit here.” Dilip Jajodia, the owner of Dukes ball manufacturer British Cricket Balls, said the firm understood CA’s decision. “We ... are buoyed by the potential for the Dukes to return in future seasons,” he said. The decision follows complaints from Australian cricketers that spin bowling is being driven out of the domestic game, in large part because of unreceptive, drop-in pitches at most major venues.