Mohammad Azharuddin hits out at Indian players critical of using SG balls

The need for Duke balls by the Indian cricket team hasn’t gone down well with former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who has criticized the decision, saying that it was the SG (Sanspareils Greenlands) that has helped India establish their dominance at home.

Coincidentally, it was the SG balls that there were first introduced when Azharuddin was the captain of the Indian team. The seam of these balls aided the Indian bowlers to grip the ball better which in turn, has led them to dominate the way they have been doing in home conditions.

“I remember the years – since 1984-85 – when the Dukes balls were used and how the seam used to go rough. It was clear that in Indian conditions they wouldn’t work. It was in 1993 when the SG was first introduced and India went on to dominate all cricket they played at home. Look at the overall country-wise average of bowlers bowling with different balls in different conditions. That will give you the answer. So, what’s the fuss about?” said Azharuddin, as quoted by The Times of India.

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The use of the SG balls has drawn criticism from the likes of bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav. Even Indian captain Virat Kohli along with teammate Ravichandran Ashwin has called for the use of Duke ball.

But the former skipper, who has won the most number of matches for India as the captain had a different take on this.

“I really can’t understand what their (Team India) grouse is. Statistics say everything.

“When our spinners go to Australia, they find it tough to even grip the Kookaburra. In England, look at how Ashwin delivered and how Moeen Ali did (with the Dukes).

“If you’ve taken six wickets (Kuldeep’s haul in the Rajkot Test against West Indies), then how can you complain about the ball? Even in pace bowling, Yadav picked a 10 wicket haul, no? So, where’s the complaint?” Azharuddin elaborated.

Statistics add weight to what Azharuddin said. Since the introduction of the SG balls in India, India in the past 25 years have lost just three-Test series. Most of the wins have come due to quality spin bowling.

“You’ve got to use what suits your conditions best. That’s also the challenge in Test cricket. I can’t go to England and say we’ll play with SG. They’ll have the Dukes ball. Similarly, if England are coming here, there are different set of challenges they are going to face,” he added further.