Rishabh Pant, Ben Stokes throw punches at each other openly for..

Team India vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has expressed frustration over the repeated problems with the Dukes ball during the ongoing Test series in England. The 27-year-old said that the ball has been consistently going out of shape, which has become a major issue for players.

India and England have raised concerns over the quality of Dukes balls being used in the ongoing Test series, with the balls becoming soft or losing shape much earlier than expected.

On Day 2 of the Leeds Test, Rishabh Pant was frustrated by the umpires’ refusal to replace the ball. The wicketkeeper threw it into the ground in protest. The ICC later reprimanded Rishabh Pant for his conduct, handing him one demerit point. Pant accepted the sanction without contest.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

It’s Definitely Irritating for the Players - Rishabh Pant on Dukes Balls

Speaking at a press conference on July 9, Rishabh Pant opened up about the ongoing issues with the Dukes ball. The batter stated that players can clearly see when the ball is out of shape, but the current rules prevent them from requesting a replacement.

"In this series, the ball is losing shape too much. That has never happened so much. It’s definitely irritating for the players because every ball plays indifferent. When it becomes softer, sometimes it’s not doing too much. But as soon as they change the ball, it starts to do enough, so as a batter you’ve got to keep adjusting to it. But, at the same time, I feel it’s not good for cricket eventually," Rishabh Pant added.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant makes shocking admission about Akash Deep's sister's cancer

There Is an Issue with the Balls Going Soft - Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes also stated that the Dukes ball losing shape early in the game is not good for the sport. The England captain pointed out that the balls not only go soft but also lose their shape entirely. However, he admitted that teams have no choice but to adapt and play through it.

"Whenever we have touring teams visiting, there is an issue with the balls going soft and completely out of shape," Stokes said ahead of the third Test at Lord's. "I don't even think the rings that we use are Dukes rings. It isn't ideal. But you have to deal with it."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cricbuzz (@cricbuzzofficial)

Umpires use a special gauge with two rings to assess whether the ball remains in proper shape. For a ball to be considered acceptable for continued play, it must pass through one ring but not the other. If it fails this test, it is considered out of shape and eligible for replacement.

India and England Set to Clash in Lord’s Test on Thursday

The third Test of the five-match series between India and England is set to begin on Thursday, July 10, at Lord’s. With the series tied at 1-1, both sides will look to gain the upper hand.

Lord’s recently hosted the ICC World Test Championship Final, where South Africa defeated Australia by successfully chasing a 282-run target in the fourth innings to claim the title.

England have included Jofra Archer in their playing XI for the Lord’s Test. He returns to the England Test side after nearly four years, having last featured in a Test match in 2021. Meanwhile, India will be boosted by the return of their frontline pacer ahead of the high-stakes clash.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant reveals difficulty in working with Jasprit Bumrah ahead of Lord's Test