Edges – These need to be done roughly 15cm from the shoulders all the way to the bottom of the bat. Step 3: Toss the ball up in the air, such that it bounces a few feet away. The throw should not be too high. We were not aware of any issues until events started to happen during play," he told BBC Radio Newcastle. Toe Protection – For those bats that don’t have Toe Protection already fitted, you must do so for warranty purposes & to support the longevity of your bat & greatly reduce the chance of toe damage. Toe Goo or Hard Toe is the recommended form of protection.

The ECB has told BBC Sport it is aware of the problems and is working with Dukes and the first-class counties "to ensure the best quality balls are used" for the remainder of the championship season. The five layers of cork are what distinguish Kookaburra balls from other manufacturers. Most of Kookaburras' competitors manufacture their balls using a single molded center. The partner needs to stay behind you, either on your left or right, and throw the ball while you are ready with your batting stance. The number of individual stitches on balls will vary based on the needs of the ball; a test match ball for instance will usually have between 78 – 82 stitches around the centre, whereas training balls and balls used in lower levels of the game will have around 55. The FinishDuring Durham's recent match in Chester-le-Street there were 11 unscheduled ball changes during a four-day game with Glamorgan, including five in one day. All other products not listed, and any products out of this warranty period, will be assessed by the GCCC and the manufacturer on a goodwill basis. Short balls, especially the ones rising about chest or shoulder level need to play or dodge with the utmost care, while the batsman needs to decide in splits of a second. By then, Rashid had opened up: a widish delivery, smashed through covers. Pfft, easy. But that was the plan.

Face – This area will cover from below the splice to roughly 10cm from the bottom of the bat. Hitting straight on the face, start on the grain on the far left. Work up & down this grain multiple times & gradually increase the force. Once you’ve reached a reasonable amount of force, move on to the next grain & work your way across the bat until you’ve covered the entire face. Pink has proved to have a great contrast for both day and night time games. Pink is also ideal because it has high visibility in all the stages of its natural deterioration. The pink Kookaburra turf ball is currently being used in trials around the globe.

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In a first-class match, the fielding side starts each innings with a new ball which is meant to be used for 80 overs before being replaced. The Duke and the SG have a more pronounced seam than the Kookaburra, which makes it easier for the spinners to grip the ball.

Repeat the process 1 or 2 times being careful not to overstretch the bowler, being aware of the safe bowling directive as laid out by the ECB. Stokes wasn’t the only one befuddled by Shami’s plan. When No.10 Adil Rashid – batting calibre well-known – shouldered arms twice in three balls of the 36th over, Shami decided to have fun. He pinged one in short, hitting the high part of Adil Rashid’s bat that read BS. He probably was done with the BS himself. When two leg-side wides followed, you wondered why Shami was so desperate to ruin his own figures. Shadow batting is very convenient as you don’t need any equipment, but it is highly beneficial. Along with practicing or imitating a shot, with shadow batting you also visualize the ball or a game situation and train your brain to react to a specific delivery.Practicing with a partner will make the drill far convenient, as you don’t need to bother about switching your arm from a throwing position to a batting stance, and you will be more focused on the shots. There are a variety of ways to practice at home and improve or work on various aspects of your batting. While you must be familiar with the hanging ball drill, I am sure you will be amazed to know about the other drills. Let’s begin with Shadow Batting. 1. Shadow Batting – Practice the motion of a particular shot The partner just needs to drop the ball and move away. You need to start a forward movement towards the ball before it bounces, and play a shot after the bounce. Even though you are stepping down, your head and eyes should be at the same level, and try to look at the ball till the last moment.