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British Cricket Balls Ltd

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A Dukes cricket ball

British Cricket Balls Ltd is a British sports equipment company, specialising in cricket equipment. The company notably manufactures the Dukes brand[1] of cricket ball used by the England cricket team in UK Test cricket, and which traces its origins to 1760.[2] The Dukes ball is also used by the West Indies cricket team in their home Test matches. The current owner is Dilip Jajodia.

Origins

The Duke family began manufacturing cricket balls as a cottage industry at Redleaf Hill, Penshurst, Kent, England, around 1760 and continuing until 1841.[3] Having gained the Royal patent for their cricket balls in 1775,[3] Duke & Son made the first-ever six-seam cricket ball, which was presented to the then Prince of Wales and used for the 1780 English cricket season.[4] In 1851, their triple-sewn ball won a prize medal at the Great Exhibition.[5] And in 1881, another Dukes ball won a gold medal at the Melbourne International Exhibition.[2]

In 1920, Duke & Son merged with John Wisden & Co,[6] a manufacturer of cricket bats.[7]

In 1999, the company introduced the controversial white ball for that year's Cricket World Cup.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ BBC News. "Red or white? Cheers for cricket's swingers." Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b Williams, Marcus and Gordon Phillips. The Wisden Book of Cricket Memorabilia, p. 238. Lennard, 1990 Google Books. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b "'Platypus Gem' Cricket ball and core, 2000: Statement of significance" Powerhouse Museum. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  4. ^ "From Lads to Lord's: The History of Cricket: 1300 – 1787" Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  5. ^ The Cricketing Heritage of Calderdale & Kirklees: "III. Facilities & Equipment", p. 4. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Wisden Timeline" Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (Wisden). Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  7. ^ Financial Times. "Words on the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack." Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  8. ^ The Independent. "The swinging duke is not all it seems." Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  9. ^ The Guardian. "Why white is the thing for the swing?" Retrieved 23 November 2013.
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