Following recent comments from England’s captain Joe Root regarding his increased frequency of LBW dismissals, the manufacturer of the Dukes ball has refuted claims of any changes in its production process. Root expressed his concerns after the second Test match against Pakistan at Lord’s, where bowlers received considerable assistance.

Root stated, “I believe there is a different lacquer on these balls. Although I lack concrete evidence, it seems they are reluctant to allow them to lose their shape and get replaced.” His remarks came amidst a match that showcased favorable conditions for seam bowlers.

However, Dilip Jajodia, the owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd, which produces the Dukes ball, firmly rejected Root’s assertions. “That’s simply not true,” Jajodia asserted in an interview with The Indian Express. He emphasized that there have been no modifications to the balls, noting the inherent variability in natural materials used in their production.

The hides for the Dukes balls are sourced from Aberdeen Angus cattle raised in Scotland, which are then tanned in Chesterfield. After the initial processing, the materials are sent to facilities in India and Pakistan for stitching, before returning to their factory in Walthamstow, England, for final finishing.

Jajodia explained, “These balls are handcrafted, so slight variations between batches are inevitable. Even individual balls may differ from one another.” He stressed that unlike machine-made products, handmade cricket balls cannot be expected to have uniform characteristics. Despite these individual differences, the manufacturing process remains unchanged.

Interestingly, while Root is now complaining about the hardness of the balls, last summer during the Test series against India, players voiced concerns that the balls were too soft and easily deformed. Jajodia previously remarked, “If I produced an overly hard ball, it would shatter bats.” Ironically, nearly a year later, Root has shifted his complaint to the durability of the balls, stating that they are damaging bats during practice sessions.

Root also highlighted the impact of the harder balls on the condition of the pitches, but Jajodia dismissed this concern as an ongoing issue that is not exclusive to the current series, stating, “This phenomenon has existed for many years.” He noted that the weather has significantly affected batting performance during the ongoing series against Pakistan, with frequent rain interruptions contrasting sharply with the dry conditions experienced during New Zealand’s Test series earlier in June.