Something unusual happened during the morning session of Day 1 in the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was surprised when his bat broke while trying to defend a delivery from Chris Woakes. The game had to be paused for a short time, and the incident also sparked fresh questions about the quality of the Duke’s ball, though from a different angle this time.
Unexpected Incident Halts Play at Old Trafford
During the ninth over of India’s innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal tried to play a simple back-foot defensive shot to a short-of-length delivery from Chris Woakes. What should have been a routine block quickly turned into a surprising moment as the ball hit the bat so hard that it cracked near the handle and caused the blade to bend visibly.
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A clearly surprised Yashasvi Jaiswal had to leave the crease briefly to get a new bat. What made it even more puzzling was that the delivery wasn’t especially quick, clocked at just 126 kph, which got people wondering if the Duke’s ball had suddenly become harder than usual.
This isn’t a new debate. Throughout the ongoing Anderson Tendulkar Trophy series, players from both teams have voiced concerns about the inconsistency of the Dukes ball. With the pitches being flat and the English summer unusually dry, bowlers have found it tough to get movement. In fact, several ball changes have been requested after they went soft too quickly. But Jaiswal’s broken bat flipped the conversation and raised a new question: is the ball now too hard?
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Duke’s Ball Manufacturer Addresses the Issue
Dilip Jagjodia, who makes the Dukes ball, has responded to the ongoing concerns. While he has acknowledged some of the criticism, he insists that the production methods have not changed in any significant way. He also explained the challenge ball makers face, saying they have to find the right balance between making a ball that lasts and one that does not damage equipment.
“If I made a really hard ball, it would have broken bats,” Jagjodia was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
“That’s the problem, we have to be careful. If people are adventurous players, they might be tempted to do it. That would be disastrous.”
Jagjodia also explained the guidelines that determine how long a ball is used in Test matches.
“The laws of the game are that the ball has to deteriorate over 80 overs. So, the ball has to play 80 overs, it gradually gets worse. You can’t suddenly come after 20 overs and say, this ball is not doing what I want or what it does.”
He added that each ball is carefully made, following strict British standards.
“I’m a very stickler for the rules, I make sure that we do the best we can. I select the balls personally… they are the most beautiful things on the planet. When you play with them, that’s out of my control.”
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