How the soft Dukes put India in a bind

England lost three quick wickets during a 14-ball burst from Jasprit Bumrah. For more than an hour after that, India’s bowling just went off the boil.

- Somshuvra Laha

Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse helped England add 84 for the eighth wicket before Mohammad Siraj restored some balance in the second over of the second session with a ball that had Smith flirting with it. Smith had been dropped by KL Rahul at slip on 5, and the lines were not always great, but staggering was how the ball had been changed repeatedly in the first session.

Handmade in the UK, Dukes used to be known for its pronounced seam and enduring hardness. But the narrative has changed completely in this tour, with players from both sides repeatedly expressing their displeasure over the unusually soft Dukes balls going out of shape abnormally quick. On Friday the second new ball to be changed after 10.3 overs, and then again after 48 deliveries. At one point in time, Gill was seen remonstrating with the umpire over the quality of the changed ball.