Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has proposed that authorities change the ball manufacturer after a string of high-scoring matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where the balance between the ball and bat has gone for a toss.&nbsp;

Routine scores in excess of 200 have become the norm with many arguing that BCCI replace the 'Kookaburra' white ball with the 'Duke' ball, used primarily in England, as it has a more pronounced seam.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"If a manufacturer cannot produce a ball which can last for 50 overs, might as well change the manufacturer. There’s nothing wrong with changing the manufacturer. What is this compulsion with only using the Kookaburra?" Gambhir said on the 180 Not Out podcast.

Gambhir's team was on the receiving end of the widening gap between the two departments of the game when KKR&nbsp;lost the match against Rajasthan Royals despite posting a massive 223-run total on board.&nbsp;

RR chasing the daunting target, were behind the eight-ball from the beginning but still managed to come back from the brink. Led by Jos Buttler, the Royals scored 96 runs in the last six overs, once again suggesting that bowlers had little room for error in the shortest format of the game.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-tough-days-are-not-always-bad-gautam-gambhir-shares-heartfelt-post-after-kkr-lose-thriller-to-rr-712188">Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: 'Tough days are not always bad' - Gautam Gambhir shares heartfelt post after KKR lose thriller to RR</a>

<h2>Support for Duke ball grows&nbsp;</h2>

Commentator Harsha Bhogle also jumped in on the debate and batted for the usage of Duke balls to provide some sort of relief to the poor bowlers.&nbsp;

"I will reiterate this. We need greater balance between bat and ball and in a situation where the pitches aren't helping, the ball must do more in the air. How about a Duke ball, a ball with a more pronounced seam, that allows more lateral movement and ensures batters can't just hit through the line at will. Love to hear expert opinions on this," Bhogle wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

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I will reiterate this. We need greater balance between bat and ball and in a situation where the pitches aren't helping, the ball must do more in the air. How about a Duke ball, a ball with a more pronounced seam, that allows more lateral movement and ensures batters can't just…
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Despite being only 31 matches in, the highest score record in the tournament has been broken twice with the chasing teams also posting above 240+ scores and yet failing to win the match.&nbsp;

The use of two bouncers per over was introduced this year with the intent to give more authority to bowlers but it has also meant that teams are not bowling spinners as frequently as they did last year.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has proposed that authorities change the ball manufacturer after a string of high-scoring matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where the balance between the ball and bat has gone for a toss.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has proposed that authorities change the ball manufacturer after a string of high-scoring matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where the balance between the ball and bat has gone for a toss. Routine scores in excess of 200 have become the norm with many arguing that BCCI replace the 'Kookaburra' white ball with the 'Duke' ball, used primarily in England, as it has a more pronounced seam. "If a manufacturer cannot produce a ball which can last for 50 overs, might as well change the manufacturer. There’s nothing wrong with changing the manufacturer. What is this compulsion with only using the Kookaburra?" Gambhir said on the 180 Not Out podcast. Gambhir's team was on the receiving end of the widening gap between the two departments of the game when KKR lost the match against Rajasthan Royals despite posting a massive 223-run total on board. RR chasing the daunting target, were behind the eight-ball from the beginning but still managed to come back from the brink. Led by Jos Buttler, the Royals scored 96 runs in the last six overs, once again suggesting that bowlers had little room for error in the shortest format of the game. Also read | IPL 2024: 'Tough days are not always bad' - Gautam Gambhir shares heartfelt post after KKR lose thriller to RR Support for Duke ball grows Commentator Harsha Bhogle also jumped in on the debate and batted for the usage of Duke balls to provide some sort of relief to the poor bowlers. "I will reiterate this. We need greater balance between bat and ball and in a situation where the pitches aren't helping, the ball must do more in the air. How about a Duke ball, a ball with a more pronounced seam, that allows more lateral movement and ensures batters can't just hit through the line at will. Love to hear expert opinions on this," Bhogle wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). I will reiterate this. We need greater balance between bat and ball and in a situation where the pitches aren't helping, the ball must do more in the air. How about a Duke ball, a ball with a more pronounced seam, that allows more lateral movement and ensures batters can't just… — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 15, 2024 × Despite being only 31 matches in, the highest score record in the tournament has been broken twice with the chasing teams also posting above 240+ scores and yet failing to win the match. The use of two bouncers per over was introduced this year with the intent to give more authority to bowlers but it has also meant that teams are not bowling spinners as frequently as they did last year. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2024: KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir urges changing ball manufacturer after high-scoring matches

Australian cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra is working on wax applicator that will allow players to shine the ball without using saliva or sweat while minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Generally, players shine one side of the ball and roughen up the other to make the ball swing in the air in a bid to deceive the batsman with the movement. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to give another body blow with the usage of saliva and sweat is expected to be ban in the wake of the global crisis. &nbsp;

As per the guidelines released by Australian Institute of Sport, last week, rubbing of spit or sweat into the ball’s surface is banned in one of the conditions for the gentlemen’s game to resume.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-ipl-doesnt-happen-for-first-time-in-13-years-harbhajan-singh-throws-his-weight-on-future-of-showpiece-tournament-296773" hreflang="en">'If IPL doesn't happen for first time in 13 years...' - Harbhajan Singh throws his weight on future of showpiece tournament</a>

Kookaburra said the wax applicator could provide a solution but is in “very early-stage product development.”

“At Kookaburra we are committed to continuous improvement and innovation in the game we love,” general manager David Orchard told AFP.

“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic we are always looking for solutions to allow our game to be played safely by all cricketing communities around the world,” he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ecb-terminates-contracts-of-players-signed-up-for-the-hundred-296763" hreflang="en">ECB terminates contracts of players signed up for ‘The Hundred’</a>

Cricket, like other sports, is suspended around the world due to the pandemic and the wax applicator would need approval from governing bodies before the resumption of play.

Kookaburra’s plan involves using a sponge to apply wax to the ball and then shine it as per the requirement of the bowler or the fielding team.

The present law strictly prohibits the use of artificial substances to change the condition of the ball and is regarded as a taboo in the world of cricket. Over the years, bowlers and fielders have been accused of using jelly, resin, lozenges, bottle tops, grit and sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball to their advantage.&nbsp;

Australian cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra is working on wax applicator that will allow players to shine the ball without using saliva or sweat while minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Australian cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra is working on wax applicator that will allow players to shine the ball without using saliva or sweat while minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Generally, players shine one side of the ball and roughen up the other to make the ball swing in the air in a bid to deceive the batsman with the movement. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to give another body blow with the usage of saliva and sweat is expected to be ban in the wake of the global crisis. As per the guidelines released by Australian Institute of Sport, last week, rubbing of spit or sweat into the ball’s surface is banned in one of the conditions for the gentlemen’s game to resume. ALSO READ: 'If IPL doesn't happen for first time in 13 years...' - Harbhajan Singh throws his weight on future of showpiece tournament Kookaburra said the wax applicator could provide a solution but is in “very early-stage product development.” “At Kookaburra we are committed to continuous improvement and innovation in the game we love,” general manager David Orchard told AFP. “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic we are always looking for solutions to allow our game to be played safely by all cricketing communities around the world,” he said. ALSO READ: ECB terminates contracts of players signed up for ‘The Hundred’ Cricket, like other sports, is suspended around the world due to the pandemic and the wax applicator would need approval from governing bodies before the resumption of play. Kookaburra’s plan involves using a sponge to apply wax to the ball and then shine it as per the requirement of the bowler or the fielding team. The present law strictly prohibits the use of artificial substances to change the condition of the ball and is regarded as a taboo in the world of cricket. Over the years, bowlers and fielders have been accused of using jelly, resin, lozenges, bottle tops, grit and sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball to their advantage.

Solution for saliva conundrum? Kookaburra’s wax applicator to allow bowlers shine ball artificially

Day-night tests are the future of cricket&#39;s longest format but the boards should not rush into them, according to New Zealand pace great Richard Hadlee. Australia played the first day-night test against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval last November and have agreed another flood-lit match with South Africa at the same venue during the home summer. 
 
The concept has found ready takers in south Asia with India trialling pink-balls and Pakistan agreeing to play a floodlit test in Brisbane in December. 
 
&quot;You try, it is the game of the future. Probably one test in a series is fair enough,&quot; Hadlee told reporters in Mumbai. &quot;I think most people like to see the traditional format during the day.&quot; 
 
The durability of the pink kookaburra ball and the dew factor in India have raised doubts about the future of a floodlit test in the country. 
 
Hadlee said the players must get ample practice before such a contest. 
 
&quot;It is important for the players to have practice games; you cannot ask them to go out there and ask them to play a day-night game against the pink ball. It is unrealistic in a professional environment era. That needs to be tried and tested, so players can get some confidence. Conditions are different all around the world, so we don&#39;t really know how the pink ball is going to work here in India and that&#39;s why players need to have those practice games,&quot; he added. 
 
(Reuters)

Australia played the first such Test against the Kiwis last November

Day-night tests are the future of cricket's longest format but the boards should not rush into them, according to New Zealand pace great Richard Hadlee. Australia played the first day-night test against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval last November and have agreed another flood-lit match with South Africa at the same venue during the home summer. The concept has found ready takers in south Asia with India trialling pink-balls and Pakistan agreeing to play a floodlit test in Brisbane in December. "You try, it is the game of the future. Probably one test in a series is fair enough," Hadlee told reporters in Mumbai. "I think most people like to see the traditional format during the day." The durability of the pink kookaburra ball and the dew factor in India have raised doubts about the future of a floodlit test in the country. Hadlee said the players must get ample practice before such a contest. "It is important for the players to have practice games; you cannot ask them to go out there and ask them to play a day-night game against the pink ball. It is unrealistic in a professional environment era. That needs to be tried and tested, so players can get some confidence. Conditions are different all around the world, so we don't really know how the pink ball is going to work here in India and that's why players need to have those practice games," he added. (Reuters)

Hadlee warns against rushing into day-night Tests

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