Using the Kookaburra balls could have helped minimise the huge gap between the standard of our domestic and international cricket, says a Former Test cricketer. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The players believe that the Kookaburra balls were better and helped improve the overall standard of domestic cricket in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had opted against using the Kookaburra this season after complaints from departments that it was proving too costly at nearly Rs10,000 per ball.
Other complaints were also received about the quality of the ball as departments felt that it was not compatible with the conditions prevalent in Pakistan.
However, the same departments are now ruing their decisions of asking for Gray’s instead of the Kookaburra balls as they feel the former type will not provide an even contest between ball and bat.
“The Kookaburra was costly but it could have improved the quality of cricket in Pakistan,” a former Test player told The Express Tribune.
“It was a real test for the pacers because they had to bend their backs in order to generate more pace and see it through to the wicket-keeper. They had to work harder to get wickets.
“The behaviour of the Kookaburra was more natural because of its small seam. But the Gray’s have a hard and thick seam which is why it assists bowlers a lot.”
He added that although the ball was costly and had drawn complaints from teams about its quality, it was still better than the Gray’s as it was light in weight. It tested fast-bowlers to the limit, helping the management to differentiate top-class talent from the average players.
‘Kookaburra a reliable tool for top-notch cricketers’
Another former cricketer explained that it allowed batsmen to play their strokes as they knew the ball would not move around abnormally.
“You only produce good batsmen when the behaviour of the wicket and the ball is true because it allows them to play their shots and grow in confidence,” he stated.
“Not all the departments had complaints and the PCB should have stuck with the Kookaburra for another three years. The outcome of it would have been visible as I believe top notch batsmen and quality bowlers both could have been produced.
“In addition, it was a way to minimise the huge gap between the standard of our domestic and international cricket.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2013.
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Kookaburra balls cost approx. Rs. 1000 , they would cost even less if they were bought in bulk. Please check and change. PCB needs to think about preparing batting tracks, need to give confidence to batsmen now.