Dukes owner listens to Ricky Ponting as Dilip Jajodia promises to investigate the ball change in the fifth Ashes Test

The change of ball resulted in a change of fortunes for England as the hosts won the fifth Ashes Test by 49 runs.

Dukes owner listens to Ricky Ponting as Dilip Jajodia promises to investigate the ball change in the fifth Ashes Test

Ricky Ponting demands investigation in ball change saga (Image via The Independent, ESPNCricinfo)

The ball-change saga during the fifth Ashes Test is not going to end anytime soon as the manufacturers of the Test ball in England, Dukes have taken the matter into their own hands. The owner, Dilip Jajodia has listened to Ricky Ponting and has promised he will look into the matter himself. 

Notably, England were given a relatively newer ball when the hosts asked for a replacement for an out-of-shape ball in the fourth inning of the fifth Ashes Test. This eventually changed England’s fortunes as Australia were all out for 334 after being 135/0 at one stage (when the ball was not changed).

YouTube video

England won the Test and leveled the five-match series 2-2. However, this major discrepancy did not go unnoticed as the likes of Ricky Ponting demanded an investigation into the matter. Now, the owner of the company that produces these balls has put his hands up to investigate the matter.

“ … I’m going to investigate myself because it affects me … my name is at stake so it’s important they don’t misallege something wrong with the ball,” Dilip Jajodia was quoted as saying by a report carried out by Code Sports. 

Also Read: “But he really saw PantBall throughout his life”- Netizens share hilarious reactions as Nathan Lyon claims he did not see Bazball in two Ashes Test

The second ball in fifth Ashes Test could have been some five years old

england get new ball
Old ball on left, new ball on right (Image via Sky Sports Twitter)

The report also claimed that the replacement ball could have been some five years old, from a previous Test series in 2018-19 when the manufacturers used to make the ball less docile. 

“I can’t imagine they would risk putting a ball in there with a different date on it, Frankly the match referee should be on top of it. We do bang that number in quite hard, so even if the gold comes off the ball is imprinted. It wouldn’t be easy to get rid of it. I’m not saying it’s impossible (it was a 2018 or 2019 ball), but it’s not likely,” Jajodia said.

It is worth mentioning that the ball tracking data showed that the replacement ball moved way too more than its predecessor. Australia batter Usman Khawaja had also spoken about it as he said, “The ball looks nothing like the one we were playing with”. 

In case you missed!