The England and Wales Cricket Board has finally put a stop to the controversial Hundred-branded Kookaburra balls for the 2025 season, amid mounting criticism of players as well as coaches. The balls had been reported to be one of the reasons for the exceptionally low scores seen during last year’s edition of The Hundred, especially in the men’s format.
Bowlers Baffled, Batters Strange Testing Anomalies in 2024
In 2024, the men’s Hundred had an expected scoring rate of just 1.37 runs per ball, much lower than other similar short-form tournaments such as the IPL, SA20, or Major League Cricket. This spectacle is undoubtedly cause for concern, since the 100-ball format theoretically allows for aggressive, high-scoring styles of play.
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Seamers like Tim Southee and Daniel Worrall capitalized on the increased swing and seam movement early in the innings, which players partly attributed to the custom-branded balls used in the tournament.
Moeen Ali and Others Criticize Ball Quality
Players expressed frustration with the ball’s performance. Moeen Ali was particularly vocal, stating that the balls felt “plasticky” and exaggerated seam movement:
“The seam seems to be massive. In every game, it seems the ball is nipping. Most teams are 30 for 5 in most games,” Moeen told The Cricketer.
The distinct Hundred logo, a large “H,” was said to require additional lacquer, which many believed altered the ball’s texture and performance.
ECB Investigates: Ball or Conditions?
Despite widespread criticism, the ECB and manufacturer Kookaburra maintained that the balls were manufactured to the same specifications as those used in other international and domestic white-ball competitions, with the only difference being the tournament logo. Over the winter, the ECB commissioned an extensive internal study, using ball-tracking data and match analysis. The findings showed:
A noticeable increase in swing and seam early in matches compared to 2022. The main reasons were, however, found to be pitch conditions, weather, and the specific bowling rules of the tournament, not the ball
ECB Reverts to T20 Blast Batch for 2025
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Nevertheless, to answer persistent player complaints and enhance the impression of fairness, the ECB has decided to eliminate Hundred-branded balls. Standard white Kookaburra balls will be employed in the tournament for the 2025 season the same ones used in the T20 Blast.
The governing body hopes that this change will enhance batter confidence and potentially increase scoring rates across both the men’s and women’s formats.
No Immediate Impact: Low Scores Persist in 2025 Opener
There was no scoring spike to be seen, however, in the 2025 season’s first fixture. London Spirit men were dismissed for 80 by Oval Invincibles on a slow and low pitch at Lord’s. Rashid Khan, who dazzled with 3 for 11, said:
“It was a hard wicket to bat on,” which indicated pitch conditions, not the ball, were again the main influence.
Key Takeaways from ECB’s Ball Change Decision
ECB abandons Hundred-branded balls for 2025 following poor player response.
2024 rates of scoring lowest among top white-ball competitions.
Players panned the ball’s feel, citing additional lacquer and swing.
Ball-tracking analysis detected negligible technical variations; conditions held responsible instead.
New balls aligned with those employed in the T20 Blast to ensure standardized play.
ECB Aims for Fair Play and High-Scoring Games
The ECB’s action to replace the contentious Hundred-branded balls with standard balls is a sign of respect for player feedback and competition integrity. Whether that is evidenced in a marked change in scoring yet to be discovered, but it is a positive step towards restoring batter confidence and providing a level playing field.
ASO READ: Fastest T20 Centuries: Top 5 Quickest Hundreds In History
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