CRICKET Australia has taken the radical step to introduce the Dukes cricket ball for the second half of the Sheffield Shield season.

The governing body confirmed on the eve of its domestic four-day tournament a version of the Dukes manufactured ball used in English Tests will be used in lieu of the Kookaburra red ball from rounds six through to the Shield final in March.

It’s a major step for the game in Australia and it could have major ramifications for all of cricket’s stakeholders.

Here’s what you need to know.

WHY THE CHANGE?

Long story short, Australia hasn’t won an Ashes series away from home since 2001, and Cricket Australia is worried the drought won’t be broken unless it takes action.

The inability of Australian batsmen to handle the swinging ball in the Mother Country has become a real concern.

Mitch Marsh juggles three different Kookaburra balls. Source: News Corp Australia

The English conditions are said to play a big part in this dilemma, but the type of ball used is also a contributing factor.

The Dukes red ball typically swings more in England than the Kookaburra version does Down Under.

Whether it’s the colour — a slightly darker red — or the shape of the ball, Australia’s batsmen struggle to adapt to the extra movement.

Cricket Australia carried out testing on versions of the Dukes ball at its Brisbane headquarters during the winter and is satisfied it will behave significantly differently to the Kookaburra ball later this summer.

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“We wanted a ball that is fit for purpose and the purpose is to prepare our cricketers to be adaptable and using the Dukes ball is not new to cricket,” Cricket Australia head of operations Sean Cary said.

“We’ve gathered feedback from players and high performance staff around the country, and we are confident with the results to date.

“This opportunity will give our players more experience to hone their batting and bowling skills with this ball, and will hopefully lead to more success in both home and away series.”

Ben Dunk shows off a Dukes and a Kookaburra pink ball. Source: News Limited

While most of the Australian Test players won’t actually be involved in the second half of the Shield season, this change is as much a look to the future as it is to the short-term solution.

Cricket Australia’s arrangement with Dukes means the imported ball will also be distributed among Premier Cricket clubs to be used in training, but not necessarily in games.

It means the country’s future Test players will more than likely be exposed to the Dukes ball at some point before Australia next travels to England in 2019.

HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?

Kookaburra, a Melbourne-based company, was founded in 1863 but its cricket balls weren’t used in Test cricket until 1946.

Since World War II, the Kookaburra balls have been used exclusively by Cricket Australia.

They are also now used in Test matches in all countries except England and India.

Prior to 1946 it’s believed a mixture of balls were used, meaning it’s been 70 years since an imported ball was used for first-class cricket Down Under.

From match balls stored at the Bradman Museum in Bowral, we know English company Wisden provided balls for at least some of the Australian Tests before World War II.

The museum confirmed to foxsports.com.au a Wisden ball was used during the 1932-33 “bodyline” Test at the SCG.

The governing body in Australia floated a switch to the Dukes company when it introduced the imported ball to its Futures League competition for two seasons in 2012, and its underage championships.

The possibility of a permanent move to Dukes has been a polarising subject in the game ever since.

Spin king Shane Warne and batting great Ricky Ponting last year urged Cricket Australia to make the switch for the good of the game.

But NSW batsman Nic Maddinson revealed to foxsports.com.au he had batted against the Dukes ball in a second XI match and didn’t believe the ball made a difference.

“It was actually easier to face than the Kookaburra,” Maddinson said at the time.



WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR KOOKABURRA?

In an interview in 2012 when it was revealed Cricket Australia was trialling the Dukes ball, Kookaburra director Rob Elliott warned it signalled the death of his company.

Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates a wicket. Source: AFP

An institution in Australian cricket for 70 years, Elliott bemoaned the invasion of the English company.

“If we are not supported by cricket in Australia then Kookaburra won’t exist, basically,” Elliott told Fairfax Media four years ago.

“If Cricket Australia and if 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.”

Kookaburra has monopolised the Australian market for the past 70 years.

But with overseas companies now muscling in on their turf, the Melbourne manufacturers have some very real competition for business.

The writer is on Twitter @SimonBrunsdon