Dukes or Kookaburra: Which Ball will be used for WTC Final 23? The World Test Championship (WTC Final) featuring India and Australia is scheduled to commence on June 7 at The Oval. As the tournament will take place in a neutral venue, there has been conjecture about the conditions and potential rule changes.
The ICC has confirmed that the soft signal rule will be removed and a reserve day will be included, similar to the previous edition, where rain had a significant impact.
Which Ball Will be Used for WTC Final 23: Dukes or Kookaburra?
Which Ball Will be Used for WTC Final 23? The type of ball to be used in the high-intensity match is another crucial factor. Although Ricky Ponting, the former captain of Australia, suggested that the teams would use the Kookaburra ball made in Australia, a BCCI official has denied these reports and confirmed that the Duke’s ball will be used instead. InsideSport quoted him as saying:
“No, we are playing with Dukes. Our guys have already begun practice with Dukes. The pacers were given Dukes during IPL to prepare for the final. We haven’t heard anything about the change of ball. I don’t know from where Ponting picked that up.”
The Duke’s ball has an extra layer of lacquer and a distinctive blood cherry hue, which helps it retain its shine for a longer period, enabling swing bowling for up to 60 overs. The use of the Duke’s ball, combined with the swing-friendly conditions in England, is expected to bring both teams’ pacers into play.
In recent times, the Duke’s ball has faced criticism, which the manufacturer Dilip Jajodia attributes to the use of alternative chemicals due to COVID-19. However, he has assured that the balls will be of the highest quality for the upcoming English summer, which includes England’s one-off Test against Ireland, the WTC final, and The Ashes.
Support Staff and Selected Players of Team India Depart for England Ahead of the WTC Final
Which Ball Will be Used for WTC Final 23? Following the conclusion of IPL 2023, Team India will depart for England in groups to participate in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.
On Tuesday, May 23, Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur, among others, departed for England. Senior players such as Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ravichandran Ashwin will join the team shortly.
Also Read: Which Ball Will be Used for WTC Final 23?
Players who are currently participating in the playoffs will depart immediately after the IPL final on Sunday, May 28. As there are no warm-up games planned in the first week of June, there is a possibility of an intra-squad match to help players adjust to the red-ball format after a hectic T20 season.
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