Manchester, England – During the morning session of Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford, something amazing happened: young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s bat split in half while he was trying to defend a delivery from English pacer Chris Woakes. The strange event not only stopped the game for a short period, but it also sparked a new wave of inquiries about the Duke’s ball, this time focusing on how hard it might be instead of how soft it tends to be.
The fracture that surprised everyone happened in the ninth over of India’s innings. Jaiswal, known for his aggressive strokeplay, tried to play a normal back-foot defensive shot to a ball from Woakes that was a little short of length. The delivery was only going 126 kilometers per hour (kph), which is not very fast, but the impact was strong enough to break the bat cleanly near its neck, bending the willow. Jaiswal, who looked confused by what had just happened, had to quickly ask for a new bat.
The Duke’s Ball Problem: From Softening to Snapping
This event adds a new level to the continuing argument about the Duke’s ball in the “Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy” series. During the tour, players from both teams have regularly complained about how inconsistent the ball is, especially how quickly it softens and loses its shape. The extremely dry English weather and generally docile surfaces have made things even harder. Bowlers have a hard time getting the ball to move, and teams often ask for ball changes because the balls wear out too quickly.
But Jaiswal’s shattered bat suddenly changed the subject of the conversation. In this case, was the ball abnormally hard? This direct hit that broke the equipment led to rumors that the ball might have been harder than intended, which is different from the earlier concerns that it was too soft.
Duke’s Manufacturer’s Previous Warnings Come Back
Dilip Jajodia, the owner and maker of the Duke’s ball, has been the main topic of conversation about the ball throughout the series. He had already talked about the criticisms, stressing how hard it is to make a ball and how bad it could be if it was too hard.
The Indian Express quoted Jajodia as saying, “If I made a really hard ball, it would have broken bats.” “That’s the problem; we need to be careful.” People who want to take risks might want to do it. That would be a disaster.
Jajodia has always said that every Duke’s ball is made with care and follows stringent British rules. He also made it clear what the rules are about how long a Test match ball can last. The rules say that the ball has to get worse over 80 overs. The ball has to play 80 overs, and it becomes worse as the game goes on. You can’t just come after 20 overs and say, “This ball isn’t doing what I want it to do.” He said again that he was committed to quality, saying, “I follow the rules very closely and make sure we do the best we can.” I choose the balls myself since they are the most beautiful objects in the world. “That’s outside of my control when you play with them.”
Even though the bat break caused a brief pause, Jaiswal and fellow opener KL Rahul gave India a good start in the must-win Test. The event at Old Trafford will definitely add to the current debate about how well the Duke’s ball performs in modern Test cricket.