Anil Kumble demands end to saliva ban as Dukes ball controversy takes new turn

Legendary India National Cricket Team leg-spinner Anil Kumble has shared his bold views on the Dukes ball controversy amid the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Anil Kumble urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to lift the saliva ban and bring back the earlier version of the Dukes ball, which was more durable.

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Dukes ball at the center of attention

The Dukes balls have been at the centre of attention in the ongoing Test series between India and England. Both teams have faced issues with the Dukes balls and criticized them for going soft too quickly.

On Day 2 of the third Test match at Lord's in London, the India National Cricket Team were irked with the balls losing their shape, and the players were engaged in heated chats with the umpires to demand a ball change.

After the second new ball was taken by India after 80.1 overs, it had to be changed twice more, after 90.4 overs and 98.4 overs in the Lord's Test match.

ESPNcricinfo reported that the second new ball had swung 1.869 degrees and seamed 0.579 degrees on average, while the replacement ball swung 0.855 degrees and seamed 0.594 degrees.

I guess it is fair that you bring back what is available from five years ago - Anil Kumble

Several former cricketers have lashed out at the Dukes ball manufacturers for the poor quality of balls, and now the legendary India leg-spinner Anil Kumble has joined that list.

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Anil Kumble said that returning to the old manufacturing standards could be the perfect solution to end this Dukes ball controversy. He said:

“Yes, it is only fair that the ball is getting soft or needs to be changed because it's getting out of shape consistently and too frequently. Something needs to be done for sure. If it doesn't last 10 overs, repeatedly changing the ball is not a good thing — not just for cricket, but the ball as well. I guess it is fair that you bring back what is available from five years ago."

Anil Kumble also opined that the end to the saliva ban could help in shining the ball better to extract the reverse swing out of it.

“That'll certainly help — shine the ball better and make it reverse at least. Today, there aren't many occasions where the ball reverses, especially in these conditions," Anil Kumble said.

As per the latest ICC rules and regulations, the ban on the use of saliva on the ball continues. However, the ICC has said it is no longer mandatory for the umpires to change the ball after a player is found using saliva.

Joe Root speaks on the Dukes ball controversy and the slow over-rate

Speaking on Sky Sports after the end of the play on Day 3, England batting superstar Joe Root talked about the ball going soft and out of shape. He said:

"I don't know enough about it to understand the science behind it. To stop teams going up to umpires every two overs, why don't you make the rings the right size instead of making them bigger and say you're allowed three checks every 80 overs?"

In an interaction on the BBC, Joe Root also talked about the slow over-rate as only 72 overs were bowled on Day 2. He said:

"It was slow, wasn't it? It's disappointing in many ways. When it's hot like this and there's so many stoppages, I haven't got the answers to be honest. I'm not concerned about it. It's not like it's happened every day throughout this series."