Warner and Bracewell concerned over quality of Kookaburra balls

Warner critical of the Kookaburra balls used in the second Test

With the pink ball constantly in the news over its visibility and changing colour, it was a big surprise to see David Warner and Doug Bracewell criticise the red Kookaburra. According to the pair, the balls in the last 12 months have been of poor quality, reports ESPNCricinfo.

Warner was concerned about the quality of the ball after the second day of the WACA Test . It was not surprising to see the Australia’s vice-captain voice his displeasure as the balls have been changed eight times, compared to the usual three.

Warner, who was a little hesitant at first to comment on the balls, later said, “I’d like to give you the honest response, but I can't," he said. "The balls themselves, I don't know if they're soft or if they're in a dry condition as they're new. Honestly I don't know.”

Warner was surprised by the way the ball behaved, as according to him only one or two hits would harm the ball easily.

"One or two hits and the ball was becoming raised off the quarter-seam, which is very rare. This batch of balls, from probably the past 12 months, have been pretty poor. Now it's probably the fifth or sixth game we've played with Kookaburra balls where we've had to actually change them more than once on the field.

"It's actually a bit disappointing because the bowlers like to get into a rhythm [with the same ball], like to work on the ball and get it to swing. At the moment it's chopping and changing a lot.”

Doug Bracewell was left confused about the quality as the Kiwis had to change their new ball just after 3 deliveries after they took it. He said, “Not too sure what to put that under, it's a pretty hard wicket, they seem to get soft pretty quickly these days, and so I don't know about that.”

Kookaburra, the manufacturers have been in much speculation over the development of the new pink ball for the inaugural Day/Night Test match between Australia and New Zealand starting on 27th November. With mixed reviews over the pink ball over its domestic usage, the outfield of Adelaide is being micromanaged to ensure favourable conditions for the new ball.

Kookaburra is now facing tough competition from the rivals Dukes balls. Cricket Australia had encouraged the usage of the Duke balls in 2012 so that players could differentiate between the two manufacturers’ balls. They also reported that the imported Dukes were cheaper.

Considering this, Kookaburra’s director was concerned about the existence of Kookaburra. He believes that if Kookaburra cannot exist in Australia, the company wouldn’t exist anywhere.

He told ESPNCricinfo, “"If we are not supported by cricket in Australia then Kookaburra won't exist basically," Elliott said. “If Cricket Australia and cricket's not supporting Kookaburra and wants to go down the imported path, then the manufacturing of cricket balls will go to the subcontinent and it will be the end of Kookaburra as we know it.”

"I thought it would be appropriate for us to be using the only Australian made ball as opposed to a ball that's made in the sub-continent in Pakistan or India. That's the thing that concerns me is that all of a sudden this sort of thing erodes Australian manufacturing and Australian jobs."

Warner didn’t wish to talk about the pink ball yet and when asked about it and said, “Next Question.”