Cricket: Why The Bat Is Mightier Than The Ball

After recent Test Series across the world many people have wondered why we are getting so many draws with even more mammoth scores. Many theories have been put forward, but one important part of the game seems to have been forgotten: the ball.

The cricket ball has not had much coverage over the last year or two since the change to the Kookaburra ball in international cricket. Since the change we have seen most teams swing the ball early in their innings, but after an initial burst and worry for batsmen things seem to die out after 20 overs or so.

A perfect example of this was pointed out by New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, in their recent series with India. In the first test match New Zealand collapsed to 60-6 before Jesse Ryder and Vettori himself put on a 186 run partnership.

In his post day interview Vettori pointed out that batting was a different proposition after the lunch break. Vettori put this down to the ball going soft. If this is so then this may be why we are seeing such mammoth scores and bore draws.

With pitches getting flatter it is becoming even more important that the ball is more durable to ensure an equal contest for bat and ball. This will lead to more exciting finishes and a much more entertaining match.

As much as we all love to see Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen spray the ball around the park, it would be more exciting if these feats were achieved in a more level playing arena.

Paul Collingwood has also mentioned the same problem on England's tour of West Indies. His claim was that it became more difficult to take wickets as the ball got older.

The ball manufacturers must find a way to ensure that the ball does not become soft too early, otherwise this will only lead more 3 innings draws and huge first innings totals that kill the game off before the end of the third day.