Ball applied for the vacant position and was appointed as Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry but disputes with the university meant that he had to wait a year before he was appointed director of the Cambridge Observatory. However Ball was delighted with his appointment as Lowndean Professor, writing to his mother:
Ball-apply para sa mga bakanteng posisyon ay hihirangin at bilang Lowndean Professor ng Astronomy at geometry ngunit ang mga alitan sa unibersidad sinadya na niya na maghintay ng isang taon bago siya ay hihirangin ng mga direktor ng Cambridge obserbatoryo. Subalit Ball ay delighted sa kanyang appointment bilang Lowndean Professor, pagsulat sa kanyang ina: