Cricketball

Dimensions and material

The cricket ball has a core of cork, which is surrounded by tightly wound rope. The shell is composed of four pieces of leather, which are connected by a slightly raised seam. To this end, the leather is sewn six times.

The ball weighs 155-163 g and has a circumference of 22.4 to 22.9 cm (diameter ≈ 7.2 cm). The balls in the youth and ladies range are slightly lighter and smaller.

Traditionally, the cricket ball is dark red. Solely on these balls are also used today still in test matches and in other first-class matches. In contrast, most white balls are in one- day cricket, especially when it is played under floodlights, related that are more visible under these conditions.

Due to the hardness of the cricket ball, the fielding is sometimes dangerous. Field players who are near the Strikers ( Close Fielder ), often wear a protective helmet with face protection.

Wear of the cricket ball

At the start of each innings, a new, highly polished ball is always used. An exchange of the ball is according to the rules in special cases or after a certain number of Over admissible (for Test matches 80 over). Therefore, for example, viewers must also return the cricket ball when the ball is hit in the ranks. Defects or untraceable cricket balls are replaced by those that are worn to a comparable extent.

In the course of an inning, the ball wears off and the surface is rough. Therefore, the bowler polished the cricket ball as many times as possible on one side of the seam, by rubbing it on his pants. It must in that case natural fluids (ie, saliva or sweat) use, but no other materials.

The new cricket ball is harder than the worn and therefore jump higher speed off the floor. It is therefore preferred by fast bowlers (fast bowler ). The older ball has because of its rougher surface after the impact with the ground regularly to spin and is therefore of slower, often cut throwing bowlers (spin bowler ) used.

Alternatives

In recreational sports leagues will be played outside for safety and cost reasons, partly with a tennis ball. This is often wrapped with electrical tape to make the relatively soft tennis ball harder and smoother.