Everything you need to know before buying a cricket ball

Have you ever wondered why a cricket match is so thrilling? The cricket ball, an unsung hero, is the driving force behind all those the spectacular catches and big hits. The most popular varieties of cricket balls will be discussed in this article, along with their unique qualities and applicability to various game formats. The ball is a key component of cricket, a game that is full of minute nuances. Both batters' and bowlers' tactics and the way the game is played can be significantly impacted by the type of ball. First, let's examine what makes a cricket ball special. 

Firstly, let us take a look at the different types of cricket balls used in the sport: 

Types of Cricket Balls: 

1. Tennis Cricket Ball

2. Poly soft Cricket Ball

3. Season Cricket Ball or Leather Cricket Ball 

Under season cricket ball there are 3 different variants: 

1. Red Cricket season ball: First-class cricket matches and Test matches are the main venues for the red cricket ball. It is perfect for longer game formats because  of its reputation for longevity and condition maintenance. The red leather ball is also used by players in 20 and 40 overs matches played  at the grassroots level. Material: At the core, is the  cork covered in  and wrapped  with a tightly wound thread. It is then covered with leather which is coloured in deep crimson red after the 2 or 4 parts are stitched together. It has a distinguished hand-stitched seam, constructed with premium thread. Swing bowlers may efficiently use the standard and reverse swing because the lacquer on the red ball keeps its luster longer. Spinners might take advantage of the rougher surface to gain more grip as the game goes on. 

2. White Cricket season ball: One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 cricket are two limited-overs formats that use the white cricket ball. It is appropriate for day-night matches since it is more visible in floodlights. But compared to the red ball, it usually wears out more quickly. This ball is made of the same material as the red one, but it has a layer of white colour  on it. For improved visibility in floodlights, it is bright white. 

3. Pink Cricket season ball: For Test matches played during the day and night, the pink cricket ball was introduced. It improves visibility under artificial illumination by fusing the durability of the red ball with the visibility of the white ball. The pink leather is coloured to improve visibility, but the substance is the same as the red and white balls. Unlike red or white balls, pink balls feature a synthetic coating that keeps them shiny for longer, giving bowlers a huge advantage as it swings a lot  

What is the difference between a Red cricket ball and a White cricket ball? 

The red cricket ball is used in longer durations of the game such as Tests. On the other hand, the white cricket ball is used in shorter durations of the game such as 50 over One Day International, T20 matches, etc. 

Season/Leather Ball Weight: 

A solid, hard ball used for cricket is called a cricket ball. The international cricket ball weighs between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (137.5 and 143.8 g) and the circumference of the cricket ball is 8 13-16 and 9 inches (220 and 225 millimeters). Notably, the T20 cricket ball weight is also the same as mentioned above.

What is a Tennis Cricket Ball? 

One of the most commonly played game is tennis ball cricket. A soft rubber ball with a coat of fur, usually fluorescent yellow  is used while playing.  Since a tennis ball is easier to handle than a conventional leather cricket ball kids and women too play with it. There are two varieties of tennis balls: light tennis balls and heavy/hard tennis balls.  A light weight tennis ball is used in several local cricket competitions played on a turf that  have artificial grass. A heavy or hard tennis ball is used widely in local city  or rural cricket tournaments played on bigger maidaans or grounds. These tournaments attract huge number of players as there is prize money which can go into lacs. Also Tennis Ball Cricket leagues have been launched on the lines of IPL attracting huge investments by corporates and HNIs. 

What is a Poly Soft Ball? 

A poly soft cricket ball resembles the appearance of a traditional cricket ball. The poly soft cricket ball is softer than the conventional season ball but a little firmer than the tennis ball. It resembles a leather ball and has seam. It is used to practice for conditions where the ball moves and swings a lot. Also kids who start playing cricket under a coach, they  are trained with poly balls. It is popularly called a Wind Ball. It is available in many fluorescent colours.  Indoor cricket can also be played with the poly soft cricket ball. 

A player is introduced to the season ball, also called the leather ball, once they have gained trust with the poly soft cricket ball. International, national, and club cricket players all use season cricket balls. Two distinct season ball colours are utilized in various formats  of cricket. Each of the two season balls have  unique characteristics  made for specific games. 

There is a large selection of cricket balls available at Total Sports and Fitness. With the highest-quality cricket balls, it is Mumbai's best go-to cricket ball shop. One of the best cricket balls in the city is what we sell. Our website and stores offer tennis ball brands like Tennex, Headley, Total, Captain, Good Shot, etc   Leather ball cricket brands available are SG, Wisden, Total, Kookaburra, Grasshopper, Sabro  and more. 

Some of the recognized Cricket ball brands are: 

● SG season ball 

● Kookaburra Season ball 

● Dukes Season ball 

● Grasshopper season ball 

● Tennex tennis ball  ● Headley Tennis ball