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British Cricket Balls Ltd is a British sports equipment company, specialising in cricket equipment. The company notably manufactures the Dukes brand of cricket ball used by the England cricket team in UK Test cricket, and which traces its origins to 1760.
Origins
The Duke family began manufacturing cricket balls as a cottage industry at Redleaf Hill, Penshurst, Kent, England, around 1760 and continuing until 1841. Having gained the Royal patent for their cricket balls in 1775, 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. In 1851, their triple-sewn ball won a prize medal at the Great Exhibition. And in 1881, another Dukes ball won a gold medal at the Melbourne International Exhibition.
In 1920, Duke & Son merged with John Wisden & Co, a manufacturer of cricket bats.
In 1999, the company introduced the controversial white ball for that year's Cricket World Cup.