Former India skipper Anil Kumble has advocated for alterations in cricket regulations, including lifting the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball and restoring the quality of the Dukes ball.

His suggestion comes amid mounting criticism in the ongoing third Test between England and India at Lord’s, where issues with the Dukes ball have come a topic of debate.

During India’s bowling innings on Day 2, the visitors were forced to change the red cherry twice within a 10-over span due to excessive wear and loss of shape.

The frequent ball changes prompted players and experts to question the manufacturing quality of the current batch of Dukes balls.

“Yes, it is only fair that the ball is getting soft or needs to be changed because it's getting out of shape consistently and too frequently. Something needs to be done for sure. If it doesn't last 10 overs, repeatedly changing the ball is not a good thing — not just for cricket, but the ball as well,” Kumble said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.

The legendary spinner believes a possible solution could be returning to the manufacturing standards from previous years.

“I guess it is fair that you bring back what is available from five years ago,” he remarked, before urging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to lift the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball — a restriction implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and still in effect for international matches.

“That'll certainly help — shine the ball better and make it reverse at least,” Kumble said. “Today, there aren't many occasions where the ball reverses, especially in these conditions.”

The IPL 2025 had already scrapped the saliva ban, and Kumble said the move was welcomed by bowlers across the tournament.

Kumble also highlighted the dry pitches and hot weather during the Lord’s Test, suggesting such conditions should normally encourage reverse swing, but noted that hasn’t been the case, largely due to the inability to maintain the ball’s condition.