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Umpires check the Dukes ball during Day 3 of the India vs England 3rd Test. (Screengrabs: X/Sky Sports)
As the controversy around the Dukes ball and its constant changes leading to slow over rates rumbles on Day 3 of the Lord’s Test, Ravi Shastri in the commentary box was left livid due to another ball change during India’s innings. The rules as it exists is that when a ball needs to be changed, the umpire slips the ball through a ‘ball gauge’; if it slips through without an issue, the same ball is retained, and if it gets stuck, then the ball is changed.
Shastri’s issue was that along with the process taking some significant of time, the box which contained the balls had five cherries which failed the gauge test, so the former India player asked why they were in the case in the first place.
“It’s hard to explain. What’s quite amazing is that they checked 5 balls there and five of them did not go through the ring so why are they in the box in the first place?,” Shastri said on commentary.
"What was that not decided at the start of the drinks break?" ⌚️
"It's common sense what you're saying. It's basic!" 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/Q431g2HpR1
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 12, 2025
In the last two Tests both India and England seamers have complained about the ball not swinging as much as it used to before and there have been also instances where they have requested for a ball change saying it gets softer way earlier than usual. While Day 1 of the third Test went without any drama with regards to the ball – it even swung late into second session, on Day 2 the same old issues cropped up.
India, which had taken the second new ball late on Day 1, took three wickets at the start of Day 2 with their seamers finding movement both ways. Jasprit Bumrah got one to nip back to take Ben Stokes off-stump while Joe Root and Chris Woakes too perished to deliveries that found movement before the umpires changed the new ball after Indian players seemed to have an issue with it. It isn’t clear why India requested for a ball change when they were finding movement, but the replacement ball which was around 10 overs old, soon became problematic for India.
It appeared the ball was older than they thought, with the Indian players being visibly upset about its condition. Skipper Shubman Gill was seen having an animated discussion with Sharfudduola Saikat who asked India to carry on with the proceedings.
However, the new ball soon became a topic of discussion again. Before the 95th over began, with the seamers not finding any movement whatsoever, Gill would take the ball to Sharfudduola, asking for a change. It will lead to the Indian captain and the umpire having a heated discussion, and Sharfudduola was unmoved, gesturing India to resume the over. Mohammed Siraj too appeared miffed, walking up and asking the umpire, “Are you serious,” which was picked up by the stump mics.
English (US) ·