Durhamfootman wrote:I hear what you are saying, but the new dukes ball has been designed solely to allow the CC to be played even earlier and even later in the season than it is now (and it's already too early and too late as it is), and England are well aware that their main (maybe even only) advantage in home tests is the swinging ball that all other sides rarely encounter. I believe this is evidenced by England's largely poor away record where this advantage is taken away.
So... the ECB want to see short test matches where the moving ball is king and England's batting deficiencies are ameliorated somewhat, and at the same time want longer CC matches where batsmen dominate so they can claim that forcing FC cricket ever further into the margins is not having a detrimental effect on the quality of the county game..... which it is.... we've seen this in test matches where 12 different opening partners were selected to partner Sir Alistair, none of whom were good enough. We've seen this when England have been forced to select 3 wicket keepers to try and cobble together some sort of batting up. And yes, we've seen this when 40 year old trundlers are taking heaps of wickets in April, May and September
Papering over the cracks by developing a ball that won't get you out, will not help England either, because all these top order batsmen who will plunder 1200 runs a season will have their stumps flattened as soon as they get an England call up because they won't have the skills to play the moving ball that England need in order to be successful at home.
What papering over the cracks will do, however, is make a nice big space in the domestic calendar at the best time of the year for young batsmen to hone their FC batting skills in a more even contest between bat and red ball, and fill it with yet another white ball, hit and giggle tournament
Still...... if it makes a few quid everything must be rosy....... mustn't it?
From this year, test cricket is going to be played in summer where moisture will be minimal and reliable weather will counter-balance the traditional dukes ball.
Cricket balls seam and swing about in spring regardless of what type of ball is used, purely because of the fresh surfaces and moisture levels at that time of year. Batsmen are still going to be tested and if they get an unplayable delivery, it will be more likely from good bowling instead of floaty wide of off-stump half volley and clipping leg, as the batsman plays a leave.
Personally I don't buy into the cricket season starting too early or late, the ECB need to maximise useable weather whenever possible. Also the harsh realty is test cricket is dying on it's arse globally, the modern world does not allow the working person to spend a whole day at a cricket ground. As much as I despise The Hundred for what it is and how much it devalues county cricket, a flagship short format competition needed to be created.
