England out of Aussie-beating balls

ENGLAND’S plan to regain the Ashes by using the balls the Australians hate has been dashed because they have almost run out of them. The leftovers from last year’s batch of Dukes balls are currently in a cupboard at Lord’s but there are not enough for a five-match Test series. Now they will have to use the newstyle Dukes ball with the seam stitched tighter under ECB orders. It will reduce the help the ball can give to medium-pace bowlers, especially on fresh, early-season pitches. But with Australia’s batsmen tending to be vulnerable to lateral movement, the new ball works to their advantage because it is expected to do less off the pitch and through the air. England’s initial enthusiasm was understandable: Australia’s totals on their previous visit here, in 2015, included 136 at Edgbaston and, famously, 60 at Trent Bridge, where Stuart Broad took eight for 15. Since Australia last won in England in 2001 their batsmen have averaged nearly 44 per wicket in home Ashes Tests but only 33 away. They have won 19 out of 25 Tests in Australia but only four out of 20 in England, where they have lost their last four series. It’s widely agreed that the difference between the Kookaburra ball used in Australia, with its seam becoming negligible after 10 to 12 overs, and the old-style Dukes, which swings for longer, has been a major factor. After two summers which former England opener Alastair Cook described as among the toughest for batting in his career, the early indications are that runs will be easier to come by. Also, in county matches both teams can now use the heavy roller, whereas before the home side could choose to offer the visitors the heavy or the light roller.