- Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been instantly sold by the effectiveness of the Dukes ball being used in the West Indies series.
- Using it for the first time in his career, Ngidi took 5/19 in the West Indies' first innings that ended on 97.
- The Dukes ball is used in the West Indies and the United Kingdom.
Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi said he would love to bowl with the Dukes ball for many years after collecting his second Test five-wicket haul with it on the first day of the first Test against the West Indies in St Lucia.
The Dukes ball is used in the United Kingdom and the West Indies and it is known for its durability and longer-lasting swing and seam than the Kookaburra and SG ball.
The Kookaburra ball is used in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, while the Asian nations use the SG ball.
The Test was Ngidi's first taste of the Dukes balls and made it count by taking 5/19 in 13.5 overs to help rush the West Indies to 97 all out.
SCORECARD | West Indies v Proteas, 1st Test
The total was the West Indies' lowest against South Africa in their Test engagements since 1992.
"Having bowled with it now, I hope I can bowl with it for many a year," Ngidi said.
"Once you get that wrist position right and hone in on the correct area, you can be very successful with this ball.
Ngidi's newfound preference for the Dukes ball is now clear, with its durability being its biggest selling point.
The same Dukes ball also allowed Anrich Nortje to thrive with his 4/35 that helped dismember the West Indian top-order.
"I prefer the Dukes ball. It stays harder and it does seem to move around a lot more," Ngidi said.
"The Kookaburra ball tends to go softer quicker. It doesn't swing for longer and you tend to look for reverse swing.
"The SG gets scuffed up very quickly and it is a hard ball to maintain, but the Dukes ball is really a test of skill.
"It took a while to prepare with it and when we were in SA, we tried everything to control the ball.