LONDON: The upcoming English cricket season is facing an unexpected setback, with the England and Wales Cricket Board reportedly dealing with a significant shortage of Dukes balls. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East—particularly involving Iran, the United States, and Israel—have disrupted key shipping routes through the Gulf, delaying crucial deliveries.
As a result, the ECB is said to have only around half of its usual stock ahead of the international home summer and the County Championship. With the season set to begin on April 3, the supply crunch presents a logistical challenge that could impact preparations and potentially disrupt the early part of the schedule.
Dukes typically manufactures between 4,000 and 5,000 cricket balls each season, using leather sourced from the hides of Aberdeen Angus cattle. The material is tanned in Chesterfield before being sent to South Asia, where the balls are hand-stitched.
Dilip Jajodia, who owns Dukes, has raised concerns about rising costs associated with stitching production in South Asia. He added that ongoing tensions in the Middle East have forced him to limit the number of balls supplied to each team, describing the situation as a major disruption.
