Anderson, Broad biggest beneficiaries of ‘swing-friendly’ Dukes ball: Shoaib Akhtar

“Their wickets would have been a bit less had they bowled with any other ball,” says Shoaib Akhtar.

By Web Desk
August 25, 2019
The Rawalpindi Express break down the science behind the different types of cricket balls on his YouTube channel. Photo: YouTube

Bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar has claimed that England stars James Anderson and Stuart Broad would had had less impressive careers and fewer wickets had they bowled with Kookaburra balls instead of the “helpful” Dukes balls, which he said are much easier to swing.

“The Dukes ball is smaller and goes very fast through the air. No disrespect to James Anderson and Stuart Broad but if any ball other than Dukes were used in England, they’d have been in problem. Their wickets would have been a bit less,” Akhtar said in a YouTube video.

“Dukes ball was a major factor in enhancing the careers of Anderson and Stuart.”

The Rawalpindi Express said that the reason Anderson and Broad have been the biggest beneficiaries of the Duke’s “delayed swing”.

“They do not get wickets outside of England because the ball and pitches are different, and they do not have the pace,” Akhtar said. “England’s pitches complement the Dukes ball very well. If the wicket is a bit skiddish then the ball’s seam swims on it. The Kookaburra ball, meanwhile, cuts through the air.

“Dukes ball has delayed swing. What does Broad do? He simply [targets a certain angle] and the delayed swing does its job. This is when at his pace delayed swing should never happen.

“We were given this ball in the 1999 World Cup. We told them that may God bless you and we went to work. That ball started reverse swinging from the third over. “

‘McGrath got wickets with whichever ball’

Shoaib Akhtar said that he is extra respect for McGrath who did not just rely on home balls and conditions but was just as lethal abroad as at home.

“There are many great bowlers but the greatest among all is Glenn McGrath,” he said. “That white bowler got wickets in both Pakistan and India. In 1994, critics said that he is ‘useless’ and won’t get the job done. He shut everyone up.”

Akhtar said that with a Dukes ball, several other fast bowling greats would have been far more successful.

“Wasim Akram, McGrath, Waqar Younis and Javagal Srinath — these were great fast bowlers. Even Srinath had a lot of heart and was very hard working. If they had the Dukes ball, and third umpire and the review system, they’d have more wickets. Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram would have had 150 more wickets.”

‘Balls should be standardised’

Shoaib Akhtar urged the cricketing authorities to standardise the use of cricket balls instead of letting the home sides do whatever they want.

“Balls should be standardised,” he said. “You play home series you win; you use your own balls, you win; you make your own wickets, you win — then what’s the point? England and Australia make crickets rules as they please. I fail to understand that.” 

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