Cricket is a well-known sport across the globe that features various equipment, notably cricket balls which are used in different formats of the game. The cricket ball used influences the pace, swing, and spin of the game.
A cricket ball is hard and consists of a cork core wound with string stitched on with a leather cover. In top-level competition, the covering is designed with four pieces of leather which looks similar to the peel of a quartered orange with one hemisphere is rotated to 90 degrees concerning the other.
History of Cricket Balls
It is believed that previous generations of the Duke family made the first cricket balls between 1760 and 1841. The family ran a cottage business at Redleaf Hill in Penshurst in Kent.
In 1775, the Duke obtained the Royal Patent for their cricket balls from King George lV. They manufactured the six-seam cricket ball which was used in the 1780 cricket season.
Different Types of Cricket Balls
There are different types of cricket balls with various characteristics and their significance in various formats of cricket.
- Red Cricket Ball
- White Cricket Ball
- Pink Cricket Ball
Red Cricket Ball
Red balls are the earliest type of cricket balls used to be played in competitive cricket and they are most commonly used in Test cricket and First Class matches. It is made of high-quality leather and a hard cork core wrapped with layers of tightly wound string.
The color of the ball aids visibility during day matches. They are known for their durability and the ability to maintain their shape and shine for extended periods, allowing for swing and seam movement.
In grassroots cricket, Players also use the red leather ball for One Day for T20 formats.
White Cricket Ball
White balls were first introduced in World Series Cricket in 1977 in Australia.
The White Leather cricket ball is used in limited-overs cricket including ODI internationals (ODI) and T20 matches. It has the same materials as the red ball but has a different color to enhance visibility under floodlights or during day-night matches.
This color is designed to be more visible against the dark backgrounds of the stadium and is known to retain its shine and hardness for a certain duration. But it tends to retain a shorter duration than the red ball.
Pink Cricket ball
MCC recommended experimenting with pink balls in 2009 and since then it has been used by the ECB and CA. The pink ball made its international debut when Australia hosted New Zealand for the first D/N test in November 2015.
The Pink Leather Cricket Ball is specifically used for day-night Test matches. It is designed to maintain visibility under floodlights and provide suitable conditions for both batsmen and bowlers.
The Pink ball undergoes special treatment to endure visibility and longevity during the extended playing hours of day-night tests. It will be a challenge to the player as it behaves differently from the red ball and provides swing and Seam moments better than the red ball under lights.
Cricket Ball Specifications for different categories
Cricket is played across the World at different levels. Hence, the weight and size of a cricket ball change as the ball used at the international level cannot be used at the U-19 level. Hence some rules have been set for the weight and size of the cricket balls to be made.
Men’s Cricket Ball specifications
The men’s Cricket balls are the biggest ones and weigh most when compared to women’s and Junior’s cricket balls. A cricket ball weighs around 155.9 -163 grams in Men’s Cricket while its circumference is between 22.4 and 22.9 cm.
| Dimensions | Specifications |
| Ball Diameter | 7.1 cm | 2.8In |
| Ball Circumference | 22.4 cm | 8.8In |
| Ball Weight | 5 1\2 oz | 156g |
Women’s Cricket Ball Specifications
The Women’s Cricket balls are similar to men’s cricket balls. The rules are almost identical to those in the game played by men. The change is that the ball is relatively smaller when compared to men’s cricket ball.
| Dimensions | Specifications |
| Ball Diameter | 6.7 cm | 2.6In |
| Ball Circumference | 21 cm | 8.2In |
| Ball Weight | 5 oz | 142g |
Junior’s Cricket Ball Specifications
Junior Cricket balls are used in U-13 leagues and below. Junior Cricket balls are lighter and smaller when compared to full-size cricket balls.
| Dimensions | Specifications |
| Ball Diameter | 6.5 cm | 2.5In |
| Ball Circumference | 20.5 cm | 8In |
| Ball Weight | 4 3/4 oz | 133g |
Rules and Guidelines for Cricket Balls
The International Cricket Council (ICC) follows certain guidelines for using cricket balls in different formats, including size, weight, and condition maintenance.
In contrast, different countries and leagues have variations in the rules regarding cricket balls. It is essential to be aware of the rules before playing in various regions. The Usage of the ball has lots of rules and regulations to be followed beyond the dimensions and maintenance.
- All the balls used in the match will be determined and shall be under the possession of the umpires before the toss and shall remain under their control throughout the match.
- The umpires will take possession of the ball at the fall of the wicket, at the start of interval, and interruption if any.
- Either captain may demand a new ball before the start of the each innings. In a match of more than one-day duration, the captain of the bowling side may demand for a new ball when it is bowled over 80 overs or more with the umpire informing other umpires and the batters when a new ball is taken into play.
- When a ball is lost or unfit to play through normal use, the umpire might replace the ball informing the fielding side’s captain and batters in the field.
Leading Manufacturers and Brands of Cricket Ball
Some of the Leading brands in cricket ball include ball manufacturing include,
- Kookaburra
- Dukes
- SG
Kookaburra Balls
Kookaburra cricket balls have been manufactured for the last 128 years. They were first used by Australia Cricket in the 1946/47 Ashes Test series. The Red Kookaburra are mostly made with machines with four-piece construction. This ball offers less seam but swings for up to 30 overs.
They have been widely used in the majority of the Test matches, T20, and ODI matches. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and South Africa use the Kookaburra balls.
Duke Balls
The origin of Duke Balls comes from the year 1760 when production began in Tonbridge. They are darker when compared to Kookaburra. They are completely handmade and stay new for a longer period.
These balls support seamers to most of the conditions and will hold around 50 overs. England and West Indies use Duke Balls vastly across all the formats.
SG Balls (Sanspareils Greenlands)
Sanspareils Co. was established by brothers Kedarnath and Dwarkanath Anand in Sialkot in 1931. The SG are the manufacturer of sports items initially. In 1991, BCCI approved SG balls for test cricket. Since then, the tests in India have been played with this ball.
SG balls have a wider seam which is closer because of the thicker thread used to make them. These balls are handmade and have upright seams which remain in good condition even after one day of play.
Innovations in Cricket Balls
Bright balls have embedded sensors to track data like speed, spin, and movement. Technological advancements have led to the development of balls that enhance performance and durability, such as pink balls for day-night test matches.
Also Check: How To Buy Professional Cricket Bat Based on its Size
