ECB Ditches Controversial Kookaburra Balls for Upcoming Hundred Tournament

ECB's Decision on Kookaburra Balls

London [UK], August 6: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided against using the white Kookaburra balls branded for The Hundred, following criticism from players regarding low scoring during last year's tournament, as reported by a sports news outlet.

Despite the format being designed for aggressive batting, the scoring rate in the men's Hundred dropped to just 1.37 runs per ball last season, significantly lower than other shorter formats like the IPL, Major League Cricket, and SA20.

Players pointed to the specific batch of balls used, with bowlers like Tim Southee and Daniel Worrall performing exceptionally well.

Moeen Ali commented, “The seam seems to be massive. In every game, it seems the ball is nipping. Most teams are 30 for 5 in most games,” highlighting the challenges faced by batsmen.

In response, the ECB conducted an extensive study over the winter, which found minimal evidence that the Kookaburra balls differed in performance from other white-ball cricket balls used in England and Wales, despite the manufacturer's claims of identical specifications aside from the branding.

As a result, the ECB has opted to revert to the balls used in the T20 Blast for the 2025 season, hoping this change will address player concerns and lead to improved scoring rates.

However, the initial match on Tuesday night showed little improvement, with the London Spirit being bowled out for just 80 runs by the Oval Invincibles on a challenging pitch.

Rashid Khan, who took 3 for 11 on his debut for the two-time champions, remarked, “It was a tough wicket to bat on.”