Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli. (Photo: BCCI)

Following complaints from the likes of Indian skipper Virat Kohli and champion off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have asked the makers of SG balls- Sanspareils Greenlands- to look into the quality of the balls used in the ongoing Test series against England.

Apart from the flat nature of the pitch on the first two days of the series-opener in Chennai, the quality of the SG balls also came under the scanner as the seam of the ball completely came off after 50-60 overs.

Paras Anand, the Marketing Director of SG, has confirmed the development during an interaction with IANS where he said that the company will do R&D (Research and Development) on the ball and will try to find a durable material that can hold the seam together on abrasive surfaces like the one we saw in the opening Test.

“We told them we will assess. Since some players have complained about the pitch. We will have to assess the ball’s reaction on such wickets also.” he told IANS.

“We will definitely find something which can endure. We will look for a material [for stitching the seam] which can endure a hard and abrasive surface also as well as the impact.” Paras Anand added.

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‘I have never seen an SG ball tear through the seam like that’- Ravichandran Ashwin

India vs England 2021: BCCI Asks SG To Review The Quality Of The Ball Following Criticism By Virat Kohli And Ravichandran Ashwin

Post India’s 227-run defeat in the first Test, skipper Virat Kohli, and ace-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed nine wickets in the match, had heavily criticized the quality of the SG ball.

“The quality of balls, honestly, wasn’t something we were pleased to see, because that has been the issue in the past as well. Just for the ball to get destroyed in 60 overs is not something that you experience as a Test side and it is not something any Test side could be prepared for.” Virat Kohli had said.

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin had said that it was bizarre for him and his teammates to see the seam of the ball peel off after 35th or the 40th over.

“It was very bizarre for us. I have never seen an SG ball tear through the seam like that. It could well be a combination of how hard the pitch was on the first two days. Even in the second innings after the 35th or the 40th over, the seam started to peel off.” Ashwin had said.

That said, considering the quick turnaround, the second Test of the ongoing series will take place with the same set of balls.

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