County Championship: Yorkshire coach Anthony McGrath against Kookaburra ball

Yorkshire coach Anthony McGrath has described the decision to use Kookaburra balls during this week’s County Championship fixtures as “nonsensical”.

McGrath watched Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire play out a draw at Trent Bridge during which just 21 wickets fell.

Seven of the nine matches ended in draws, with only Surrey and Northants picking up victories.

McGrath said asking county players to use the less responsive Kookaburra to better prepare England players for the Ashes this winter, while Ben Stokes’ side tackle India with a Dukes ball this summer, made no sense.

“The match as a whole was not a great watch for spectators with the Kookaburra ball and I’m still not sure why we are using it, to be honest,” the 49-year-old said.

“We don’t play Test cricket in England with a Kookaburra and if we are thinking about the next series in Australia playing with a Kookaburra, then the people who are going to play in that series probably need to be using a Kookaburra ball as well.”

The directive, enthusiastically embraced by director of England cricket Rob Key, was originally brought in to encourage County Championship bowlers to ‘upskill’ after successive Ashes disappointments with the Kookaburra ball.

It was initially seen in 2023 for a two game mid-season trial and repeated last summer with a two game early and late season trial.

Critics feel the move penalises seamers, which form the bulk of county sides, and reduces the likelihood of results. A total of 17 out of 18 early season games with a Kookaburra in 2024 were draws.

Former Yorkshire coach Ottis Gibson called it “a nonsense” last season and Surrey’s then director of cricket Alec Stewart said it was “the worst decision ever”.

“If you’re wanting people to bowl 90mph on the back of seven first-class games, then eight T20s… and you slot it in during a Test series, in the most jam-packed part of the season with not many England players around, it is nonsensical,” McGrath added.