Cricket players have long known that some balls behave differently from others, hence the desperate attempts of bowling teams to get the ball changed before its allotted 80 overs when they are having trouble getting batsmen out. Now, at last, there is scientific proof of the fact. A study by a University of Adelaide sports engineer has shown that most commercial brands of cricket ball are inconsistent in quality. Of course the jingoistic mob at Test Match Special are never going to believe that the Kookaburra is of good quality, but maybe folks at the ICC will take notice.