The distinction between amateurs (gentlemen) and professionals (players) in cricket was abolished 60 years ago. Yet class and cricket are not so easily divorced.
The gentlemen tended to be batters while the players were often fast bowlers.
The Men’s County Cricket Season started with two rounds of matches using the Kookaburra cricket ball. Used in Australia its widely thought to be more helpful to batters than bowlers. Hence games saw several early season centuries and one triple century. All but one of the games was drawn.
The County game has now reverted to using the Dukes ball which promotes seam and swing bowling and hence is more helpful to faster bowlers.
The person in charge of men’s cricket in England Rob Key is keen on the Kookaburra ball. Then again in his playing career he was a batter…
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