- August 8, 2025
If you saw The Hundred last summer and thought every batting march was déjà vu, you were not mistaken. Teams were crumbling like a house of cards, and even the biggest hitters were batting like they were batting underwater. As it turns out, it was not all in your mind. After months of outrage, the ECB has finally decided to remove the quirky, controversial, white kookaburra balls that indisputably became the tournament’s unlikely villain. And yes, we can finally wave a fond farewell to that shiny, plasticky ball with the huge ‘H’ that everybody loved to despise.
The Ball That Refused to Behave
So, what was the big deal with these so-called “Hundred balls”? They looked cool, sure — emblazoned with the tournament’s loud ‘H’ logo — but the players weren’t impressed. Batters grumbled about the overdone shine, the bar-of-soap grip, and the ball darting about as if it had its game plan. Moeen Ali summed it up best when he said, “Every game, it seems the ball is nipping.” When even seasoned pros are struggling to stay in, it’s not just nerves — it’s a serious equipment issue.
Despite Kookaburra’s claims that the balls were made to the same specifications as those used in international cricket, players noticed something off. Seamers were having a field day, especially in the early overs. And with The Hundred allowing 15 of the first 20 deliveries to be bowled by one or two bowlers, batters barely had time to blink before they were 30 for 5.
The Data Didn’t Lie
To be fair, the ECB didn’t ignore the outrage. They commissioned a deep-dive study during the off-season to get to the bottom of it. What did they find? Technically, the balls shouldn’t have behaved differently. But ball-tracking data painted a different picture — there was a noticeable spike in seam and swing movement in 2023 compared to previous years.
Was it all down to the ball? Not quite. The report pointed fingers at multiple culprits — pitches, damp weather, and the tournament’s unusual bowling rules. Still, perception matters in sport. And when almost every player feels like the ball’s doing cartwheels, that perception becomes reality — especially when scoring rates nosedive to 1.37 runs per ball, far below other leagues like the IPL or Major League Cricket.
Back to Basics
So, what’s the solution? For 2025, the ECB is hitting the reset button — changing to the same white balls as those used in the T20 Blast, without shiny surfaces, oversized logos, or strange sideways movement. All of this is to try to restore player confidence, and let’s be honest — to make the matches more entertaining to view.
No, don’t expect immediate fireworks. In the season’s opener, the London Spirit were bundled out for a mere 80 to a very excellent Oval Invincibles team. Rashid Khan claimed the pitch was “tough to bat on,” and while the new balls will likely play a part eventually, flat and low surfaces might still be the real party poopers.
This ball switch isn’t just about better stats — it’s about giving the fans what they came for: fast-paced, high-energy cricket with big scores, bold shots, and a fair contest between bat and ball.
The ECB finally listening to players and ditching the controversial Hundred-branded ball is a win for both players and fans. It may not fix everything overnight, but it’s a step toward restoring balance and entertainment.
