Star Australian batsman David Warner says he's been left confused by the drop-off in quality of the balls used in Test cricket over the past year.
The situation has reached farcical status during the second Test between Australia and New Zealand at the WACA Ground, with eight balls already used after two days.
On Friday, one of the balls lasted just three deliveries before it needed to be replaced.
Players have been left frustrated by the constant chopping and changing, and Warner wants to know what the deal is.
"One or two hits and the ball was becoming raised off the quarter-seam, which is very rare," Warner said.
"This batch of balls from probably the past 12 months have been pretty poor.
"Now it's probably the fifth or sixth game we've played with Kookaburra balls where we've had to actually change them more than once on the field.
"It's actually a bit disappointing because the bowlers like to get into a rhythm (with the same ball). (They) like to work on the ball and get it to swing.
"At the moment it's chopping and changing a lot."
NZ paceman Doug Bracewell was equally confused about the ball situation.
"It's a pretty hard wicket. They seem to get pretty soft quickly these days," he said.
The ball hasn't been the only thing to cop flak during the WACA run-fest, with the flat deck also coming under fire.
Australia's batsmen encountered few problems as they compiled 9(dec)-559 during their first innings, with NZ heading to stumps on day two at 2-140 in reply.
On the eve of the Test, WACA curator Matt Page predicted the pitch would offer plenty of pace and bounce.
Bracewell was disappointed the pitch failed to live up to the hype.
"I think it was a bit slower than it was talked up to be," Bracewell said.
"Certainly day one, there wasn't really that pace and bounce that it was talked up to be.
"You always want to bowl on something that's got a bit of bounce and pace to it, but unfortunately that's not the case.
"But it still had enough in it to get something out of it."
In-form Kiwi batsman Kane Williamson holds the key to NZ's chances of forcing a draw.
Williamson will resume on 70, with Ross Taylor unbeaten on 26.
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