​ECB confirms specification of Dukes ball for 2019 Specsavers Test programme

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that the Dukes ball for the 2019 Specsavers Test Series against Ireland and Australia will be made to the same specification as those used during the 2017 and 2018 home Test programmes.

It is felt that the 2017-18 specification Dukes ball on Test match pitches has produced highly entertaining cricket that has helped promote the Test format.

The 2019 Dukes ball, used during this year’s Specsavers County Championship, has been produced with a slightly less prominent seam. This was done at the instruction of the ECB Cricket Committee, conscious of the balance between bat and ball on County pitches, especially during the early and latter parts of the season.

The 2017-18 specification Dukes ball was used during the second-half of the 2018-19 JLT Sheffield Shield.

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