ENG vs SA: They Are Rubbish To Be Honest - Stuart Broad Slams The Quality Of Duke Balls

Senior England pace bowler Stuart Broad slammed the usage of Duke balls during the first day of the second Test against South Africa at Old Trafford.

The London-based manufacturer, who produces the Duke balls used for Test cricket in England, have been criticised for the quality of balls this English summer. In May, the owner of this business admitted that the new batch of balls were going out of shape.

They are rubbish, to be honest: Stuart Broad on Duke balls

Broad said the bowlers have struggled with the Duke balls throughout the year and it was the worst case for them while bowling to South Africa on Thursday (August 25). 

“They are rubbish, to be honest. We have struggled with them all year for some unknown reason. Today was probably the most out of shape we have had all summer. After about 25 overs the umpires were saying it’s out of shape but it’s going through the rings because it’s quite a small ball. We could tell how soft it had gone after that,” Broad told BBC.

Broad’s close friend James Anderson supported his bowling partner’s claims and called it a frustrating scenario. 

“They felt better last week but the one we got today was a really average ball. It was out of shape from 20 overs, but it was small enough to fit through the hoops. It was frustrating because the umpires couldn’t do anything about it,” Anderson said.

We will have to adapt in the second innings: Stuart Broad

Broad and Anderson picked three wickets apiece to bowl out South Africa for a paltry score of 151. Broad, who claimed figures of 3/37 including important wickets of Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen, said England will struggle to pick wickets in the second innings. 

“It’s been really noticeable, at every Test bar Lord’s. From 40 to 80 overs, it’s been a very difficult time to take wickets, you have to find different ways to do it. Wickets fall early, but you have to change it up 40 to 80. In the second innings we will have to adapt and adjust,” Broad said. 

England’s score read 111/3 at the end of Day 1’s play with Jonny Bairstow (38) and Zak Crawley (17) batting for the hosts.

Also Read: Stuart Broad Becomes 8th Bowler To Pick 800 Or More Wickets In International Cricket