“My feeling is because the Aussies have had that Dukes ball in their hand it’s not totally foreign to them. The feel is important, the way it leaves the fingers is important,” he said. “[Peter] Siddle [has been] playing at Essex and he’s been playing with it and doing very well. I think [Mitchell] Starc will swing it because he’s a natural swing bowler and this ball will assist his swing. “I think the Aussies have done a fantastic job this year. They’ve sent out the [Australia] A team, they’ve had people playing county cricket, they’ve had Dukes balls in Australia. If they don’t succeed it won’t be lack of trying, I can tell you that.” The ball to be used in the Ashes is the same specification that featured in last year’s series between England and India, won 4-1 by Joe Root’s side but closer than the scoreline suggested. Jajodia said the differences between that version and the one ordered by the ECB for this year’s county season, a change he opposed, were very minor to the unititated.

Loading “If you looked at the two balls, unless you were a bit of an expert, you wouldn’t really tell the difference,” he said. “You can see that the seam appears to be a bit finer and tighter and so on, but not to the extent that it’s different. It’s not a different ball – it’s exactly the same ball. But it will swing because of the nature of the ball, whether it’s the ‘18 or ‘19. I think the Aussies found that when they play with it in the Sheffield Shield, which has a different surface finish ... it still swings.” A batch of the more bowler-friendly balls from last year were sent to Australia within 10 days of the ECB deciding in May to use them in the Ashes, while another box was left for the Australia A squad, which included players who are now in the Test side, at their hotel when they arrived in England last month. The ball is tipped to dominate this year's series. Credit:AAP “So they’ve had plenty of time,” Jajodia said. “They’re fully aware of what the ball is all about. I don’t see that it’s going to be a huge disadvantage for Australia. In fact, I would suggest that it might be an advantage for Australia. I think the quality of their bowling will be very, very good. “

Asked about bowling with the Dukes ball, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood said: “I think you just have to be patient with it. There is always going to be a little bit in the air and off the wicket, it’s probably just trying not to do too much. It’s probably trying to be patient and trying to hit those right areas as you would in Australia and the wicket or the ball is going to do enough for you. Loading “I feel like it stays a bit harder than the Kookaburra and it seams more. You feel more in the game I guess bowling with one, from a bowler’s point of view. Jimmy [Anderson] is obviously a genius with it and Broady [Stuart Broad] as well. They know their games inside out and they stick to their strengths. I think for the Australians who don’t use it as much it’s about not getting too greedy. That’s when the runs start to flow and the game can get away from you.” Jajodia doesn’t believe England reverted to last year’s ball simply to get a leg-up on Australia, saying “there is too much attention given to all the conspiracy theories”. But the Australian camp has needled him about the change nonetheless. “Needless to say I got my leg pulled up about stitching them up,” he said.