Things changed in the following year. We were given adequate number of balls to practise with, but on the condition of returning it to the hosts after the net session. The host association was accountable for these balls, and had to return the balls to the BCCI after the game. Or so we were told. We didn't have a problem with this arrangement. The only difference from a normal training session was that we were still doing the fielding drills before the match with the same old SG Test balls. Things improve further this year, and we faced no such problem. There were more than enough balls to practise with and to choose the match balls from.

We at Delhi still face the same problem – the unavailability of the Kookaburra balls for practice ahead of the Ranji one-day tournament, which will be played with the white Kookaburra balls. We are told that the balls are too expensive, and hence we must make do with some other local brand that is white in colour, to get the feel of the white ball. We would be given an odd Kookaburra or two every now and then in the interim. I am struggling to get my head around this decision. Yes the balls are expensive, and must therefore be used sparingly, but definitely not as scarcely. If money is such an issue with the association then how the same association managed (if a newspaper article is to be believed) to spend Rs 40 lakh on buying tracksuits for the cops and another obscene amount (nearly Rs 28 lakh) for an AGM totally stumps me.

Ours is not the only association with this queer arrangement. Most associations across the country are doing exactly the same thing. To make matters even worse this isn't restricted to just Kookaburra balls. When it comes to the Ranji Trophy even the SG Test ball is considered a luxury that most teams can't enjoy during practice sessions. Instead they practise with other cheaper balls. Things aren't that bad with our association, though, when it comes to red balls.

Another question that comes to my mind about the whole exercise of using Kookaburra balls for the Duleep Trophy is, whether it really serves its purpose of getting the players used to a different brand? It makes little difference because we play with these balls only once in a year. And only a handful of players at that. With the Duleep Trophy format changed to knock-outs, a couple of teams play only one game each, which could easily be just one innings. And the lucky ones who got the feel for longer than the rest find it difficult to remember its nuances for one full year.

To me, the idea of using these balls is to help the players modify or even remodel their game to suit this ball, and hence make it better suited for international cricket. But since it happens only once a year, it serves very little purpose. I'd suggest that every alternate round of the Ranji Trophy should be held with the Kookaburra balls. It will give everyone playing domestic cricket the feel of the Kookaburra balls, and also provide a different kind of challenge for the players. I firmly believe that man is a product of his circumstances, and if we play our cricket with SG Test balls day in and day out, we will become players suited for that particular ball. If we are exposed to Kookaburra balls from an early stage, our fast bowlers will learn to hit the deck hard, spinners will learn to put more work on the ball, batsmen will learn to bat cautiously when the ball is new, and most importantly our curators will learn to make the tracks hard and bouncy because there won't be a way out.

Take care

nice blog!

BCCI the richest cricket board in the world and teh domestic competition cannot afford cricket balls. Where is the money going???

First up, love yr column - insightful, interesting, thought provoking and good humoured. Keep it up!
Here's a thought: in EVERY match in Ranji and Duleep, give each team the option of Duke's / Kookuburra / SG - choice once made, stays for the whole match.
Logistically a bit problematic - but in just a few years a whole lot of Indian cricketers will appreciate the nuances of different balls.
Yr thoughts?
Cheers Cad

Aakash, I understand your issue and sympathize. But can you answer one question in your next blog. Why? Just Why do you keep whining and complaining like a little boy in all your articles?

Aakash,

Talking of balls, has anyone bothered to follow up on this

http://greenchannel.blogspot.com/2005/04/i-think-i-ended-golden-age-of-batting.html

and if not, how about bringing it up during the scheduled captain's meeting? Or better yet, how about getting the DDCA guys to commission a few balls for local/office leagues for a test drive?

Cheers,

Lovely article Aakash. Interesting and thought provoking. Revenue of BCCI is more than the revenue of all the other cricket boards in the world combined and still they are not able to provide something as basic as cricket balls for the first class cricketers in the country...
I also liked your suggesstion for playing alternate Ranji trophy rounds with Kookabura balls. If only someone from BCCI is listening..

there is a ball called the MATRRIXX TEST which is made from Australian hide and core supplied by the same company who does it for Kookaburra and the ball is then apparently handstictched in India and it outperforms the SG Test big time. I have used this ball in various matches and it costs just a bit more than the SG and is heaps cheaper than Kooka. why does the BCCI not try out these balls...there will be plenty available and within India itself and at a reasonable cost.

Funny, eh? The BCCI has money to help the Sri Lankan cricket board,arrange felicitations, and most of all, arrange the IPL. But no money to spend on balls to practice?
Tch tch.

It's very rare for an active player to speak out like this. You obviously have given up hope for playing International Cricket for the BCCI. All I can say is ,Bravo!.
Now that you have done this, why not go a bit further and start something towards forming a player's association. No one hoping to play for the BCCI team would dare to do it. Why not someone like you? Unions are not illegal in our country.

When the BCCI holds its meetings in 7-star hotels and people like Lalit modi stay in luxury suites that cost 90,000 Rs/night, how is that players can't be given balls that cost just Rs. 3000 each.

This is ludicrous.
The game is not because of administrators, it is the administrators that are because of the game.

"most importantly our curators will learn to make the tracks hard and bouncy because there won't be a way out"

Aakash I know that the curators are under pressure to prepare flat wickets to suit the Indian team for international cricket or because they think the fans won't enjoy the game unless the batsmen are hammering the bowlers all over the place, but why don't they prepare good wickets (i.e. good bounce and a bit of movement) for the domestic matches? Any true cricket fan who has a bit of knowledge knows that a match is much more interesting when it’s an even contest between bat and ball.

I remember there was a green track prepared for an IPL 20/20 and Laxman's team lost and he went on air and criticized the pitch as being green and said "the pitch was horrible, 20/20 is suppose to have flat tracks" I thought this was a very shallow comment by Laxman. Pitches like these should be encouraged no matter what format is being played. Cheers.

Spot on Aakash. I have no problems with the BCCI spending "obscene amounts" of cash on AGMs and tracksuits as long as they invest heavily in the development of the game.

Clearly, from your evidence it would seem that they are not doing nearly enough. There is no reason why the BCCI can't enter into a long-term contract with the three main ball producers (Dukes, K'barra and SG) with a view to reducing unit costs and providing enough resources so that an entire generation of Indian players get to play with all three kinds of balls. It is ludicrous that the AGM splash-outs are happening at the cost of providing adequate resources.

Stay angry...

Hey Homer, whose blog is that? That is awesome stuff

A couple of hours ago I went and bought a kookaburra ball just for net practice (and I'm not much of a cricketer!!)The cheapest is about $20 or so. So I was amazed to find out that Indian 1st class cricketers don't have enough balls for a first class match! Its ludicrous, in Australia we use Kooka's everywhere, whether test or just in the park! And I'm left wondering how that great leviathan, owner of IPL and the richest board in the world cant buy enough balls for its first class cricket, they cant be much of a board!! Too many businessmen in cricket I say, not enough cricketers.

Because my dear Akash, if they bought used balls costing Rs 3000 each they cannot stay in Luxury Hotels.

Because my dear Akash, if they bought used balls costing Rs 3000 each they cannot stay in Luxury Hotels.

Millions of dollars in broadcasting rights and sponsors.. Where is the money going??

Good Article...You can't expect much from an organization whose sole aim is to mint money. Things will not change unless cricketers run the show instead of businessmen.

Dear Akash,
Thanks for your column. Its always interesting to read it.
Idea of using Kookaburra balls is good, however, implementation is clearly lacking. I'm sure there must be other players too, who must have similar opinions. The issue (rather, any issue) needs to be taken up with administrators/ state cricket boards and needs to be sorted out. Putting it on blogs is good for information to others, but would have helped to know what is that you or any player did to find its resolution.
Please update in coming blogs, if you can.
Thanks.
Keep writing.
Warm Regards,
#! /Yogesh.

the richest board in the world and they cant even have a decent supply of balls!!!! lol. and im also fairly sure they are made in india also? what gives? surely a deal between the bcci and kookaburra could be struck?

Hi Akash,

This is ridiculous that BCCI not give KB balls to practice and play. Being the richest cricketing boards. Like the other guy mentioned they pay for all other stuff that is not relevant. Anyway, if they do want to save money but at least get balls that is similar to KBs there is Grays cricket ball. In NCCA, KBs are used for A div cricket only. B-D use Grays, which simulates KB. These are similar in price to SG balls. BCCI can use it for practice and local cricket tournaments. Only thing these are made for Grays in Pakistan.
Contact me via e-mail if you want to get couple of Gray’s cricket balls and try in practice.

nice blog Akash and you bring a very genuine point to notice. However economic viability is a problem with most things in India and we have learnt to carry on with it. People are not getting proper practice facilities for many sports which many first world countries get. I wouldnt blame you for being a crying kid and I wouldnt squarely blame the officials for it because I have learnt that in democratic setup you get things done by making noise about it and I am happy someone is standing up and doing that. You are putting to good use the approach of mobilising the public opinion and getting things done which many people misuse.
I heard BCCI carrying out an investigation for poor quality of SG balls which was heartening. Also I read many people suggesting some cheaper alternatives which can be tried for fielding drills and net practice. Though not the best solution, I think you ll agree that all professional sportsman should learn to adjust according to situations.

I've got a radical idea: Allow the bowling side to choose which ball they will bowl with!

Currently, every batsman can choose which brand bat he uses, what shape, what weight, and can even change the bats in the middle of their individual innings.

Eg, in the upcoming Test matches in New Zealand, India could bowl with SG balls and New Zealand can bowl with Kookaburra balls. Perfect!

This will bring some power back to the bowlers, resulting in more dismissals and therefore less tied Test series.

Nice blog. Well i dont really agree with balls really. Its the bowlers who Make the impression with Accuracy and not the Balls.

If that Was the Case then Australia wouldn have dominated in Subcontinents if the Ball was playing a major factor.

BCCI should encourage the Curators in preparing all sorts of pitches and also should scrutinize on The Players fitness levels.

Stealth - Why don't you be a little more stealthy and disappear altogether?

Akash is bringing up issues germane to playing conditions and paints a very interesting backdrop of where mainstream cricketers come from. Akash, please do not get discouraged by people like these and continue to give us your insight.

Dear Akash,
Are you for real ? Now you will beome a marked man by the BCCI and never get to play test cricket again. It's better not to criticize them as they have the power to prevent a good cricketer's success.

PS- Once, I have the money......I will buy your book.

haha they will put a gag order on you if continue to be so incisive

What brand of ball is being used in international T 20 Cricket in India? Is it the Cookaburra?