Australia cricketers to use Duke balls ahead of next Ashes series

Cricket Australia are considering using English-made cricket balls in an attempt to better prepare their batsmen for the next Ashes series.

The UK-manufactured Duke ball could be introduced to Australia’s Sheffield Shield competition from 2017 as team bosses look to solve their batsmen's problem with swing bowling.

“It’s something that we’ve thought about and will be discussing with the High Performance Managers in each state,” Cricket Australia general manager Pat Howard admitted.

“We may give consideration to using a Duke ball in Shield competition in the two seasons leading up to the next Ashes series in the UK.

“That could involve using a Kookaburra ball for the first half of the season and a Duke ball for remainder of the year.

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is supportive of the idea.

“I wouldn’t be against it," he said. "I think it certainly wouldn’t be detrimental to Australian cricket to use the Duke ball but that decision is probably out of my power and ill just play with whatever ball they give me.” 

Australia have not won an Ashes series in the UK since 2001 and collapsed to 60 all out on the first morning of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge.

And Howard admits his team’s failure this summer will see his position come under scrutiny.

"I need to be reviewed and I have absolutely no problem with that," he said.

"Clearly I have got to take leadership over this. We lost and someone is accountable and ultimately I am accountable. The first person I want people looking for is me rather than anyone else."