Lets not forget here that bats need to be stickered, stamped, marked as Grade A to be used in professional cricket.
I've an idea. Lets make balls with bigger, more pronounced seams that stay shinier for longer, then let the batsmen use laminates...
Kirk Edwards scrambles the single that takes him to a debut century, West Indies v India, 3rd Test, Dominica, 4th day, July 9, 2011©AFP
Can u imagine the reaction if an umpire pulls up a player of stature ? It would need some balls to do. Umpires must know it goes on.
Doesn't mean there isn't a stamp on the shoulder
Maybe someone has pics of bats stamped on the shoulders stating Grade A , B or C as I have not seen it. (that of course does not mean some bats are).