We have always heard of cricket stories of batters changing the game for any team. However, cricket is nothing but an entertaining clash of bat and ball and the players are just the medium, one who juggles the ball and the other one ready to smash it out of the ground.
Today, we will learn about all the aspects of a ‘CRICKET BALL’ and how the swing and seam bowling has changed the course for the bowlers.
Cricket balls are a central piece of equipment in the game of cricket. They are typically made of layers of cork, tightly wound string, and covered with a leather casing.
The leather covering is stitched together with a prominent seam, which is crucial for bowlers, as it helps in delivering different types of deliveries like swing, seam, and spin. Cricket balls are usually red for Test matches and pink for day-night Tests, while white balls are used in limited-overs formats like One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 (T20) games for better visibility under floodlights.
The leather cover of a cricket ball is stitched with a raised seam, which is important for bowlers as it helps them deliver different types of balls like swing, seam, and spin. Cricket balls are usually red for Test matches, pink for day-night Tests, and white for limited-overs games like ODIs and T20s to make them easier to see under lights.
1) Weight And Size
A new cricket ball should weigh between 5.5 ounces (155.9 grams) and 5.75 ounces (163 grams), and its circumference should be between 8.81 inches (22.4 cm) and 9 inches (22.9 cm).
2) Approval And Control Of Balls
Before the toss, the umpires must select and take possession of all the balls that will be used in the match. The balls will stay under their control for the entire game.
The umpire should take charge of the ball whenever a wicket falls, at the start of any break, and during any pause in the game.
3) Who Can Ask For The New Ball?
Unless there’s a prior agreement stating otherwise, either captain can request a new ball at the beginning of each innings.
4) Rule To Change The Ball In The Match Of More Than One Day’s Duration
In a match lasting more than one day, the fielding team’s captain can request a new ball once 80 or more overs have been bowled with the old one. The umpire will notify the other umpire, as well as the batters and scorers when a new ball is brought into play.
5) What Happens When The Ball Lost Or Gets Unfit To Play
If, during the game, the ball is lost, cannot be recovered, or is deemed unfit for play by the umpires due to normal wear and tear, the umpires will replace it with a ball that has a similar level of wear as the previous one. When the ball is replaced, the umpire will inform the batters and the fielding captain.
6) Women’s Cricket:
Weight: Between 4.94 ounces (140 g) and 5.31 ounces (151 g)
Circumference: Between 8.25 inches (21.0 cm) and 8.88 inches (22.5 cm)
7) Junior Cricket – Under 13:
Weight: Between 4.69 ounces (133 g) and 5.06 ounces (144 g)
Circumference: Between 8.06 inches (20.5 cm) and 8.69 inches (22.0 cm)
