All the different types of cricket balls and when are they used

Cricket is one of the most loved sports in the world. It is unlike any other sport that ends in an hour or two. The longest format is called Test Cricket which runs for 5 days. Not only is the game unique and interesting, but its rules are also strange. There are wickets, bats, gloves, pads, and balls used in the game. Today, we are going to discuss the different types of balls used in cricket and the game format they are used in.

Different types of cricket balls:

• Gully and local cricket

o Plastic ball

o Rubber ball

o Tennis ball

o Flash ball

o Synthetic ball

• National and International level cricket

o Red leather balls

o SG

o White leather ball

o Pink leather ball

Balls used in the gully and local cricket

When it comes to cricket, people love playing it to the core. Especially in India, you’ll find children playing cricket in a space as little as a room. This means softer balls coming into play. Here are the possible ball types that are used and the best conditions to bring the balls into use.

• A Plastic ball is perfect for smaller areas. This will ensure that no one gets hurt during the play.

• Rubber and tennis balls are generally used in medium-sized grounds. There are even T-ball tournaments with attractive cash prizes on the table.

• A flash ball is a hard but light ball that can travel huge distances when hit well. These are very light in weight and are best for bigger grounds. You may get injured upon getting hit on the fingers. Use gloves if possible.

• Synthetic balls are used by professional cricketers for training and practice. These are made of synthetic material and come in different styles. Some balls are made to offer huge swings and some are made to provide a bounce.

Companies dealing in sporting goods can provide you with all the possible balls. You may even get discounts when buying in bulk.

Balls used in the international cricket

In international cricket, three types of formats come into play: T20, 50-50, and Test Cricket.

T-20 involves each side playing 20 overs. An over comprises 6 legal deliveries. 50-50 involves each side playing for 50 overs. And test cricket is meant to play for 5 days with each day having around 90 overs in total.

Red Leather Balls

• Kookaburra: It is a 4-piece ball that is mostly used in limited-over cricket (50-50 and T20). Apart from it, a few countries also use it in test cricket. The ball manages to hold its shape and shine for 20-30 overs. After this, the bowler finds it harder to create a swing.

• Dukes: These balls are manufactured in England and are mostly used in England and West Indies. The ball retains its shape for up to 50 overs; this makes it a bowler-friendly ball. However, spinners do not get much benefit from it.

• SG: Just like the British Dukes, SG is manufactured and used in India. The ball loses its shine very quickly and thus doesn’t help pacers except those who can reverse swing it. However, spinners get a huge benefit from these balls. This is the reason Indian pitches are usually spin-friendly.

• White Leather: This ball was first introduced in 1977 for the day-night match. Under the floodlights, the red ball is not easily visible. This is where the white ball comes into use.

• Pink ball: The test match is played in a white dress; it means that the white ball will create a problem for the players. This led to the use of red balls. However, test matches have also been played in the night. To solve the issue, a pink ball was introduced. It doesn’t camouflage with the dress or the night sky.

Because international quality balls are costly, you may try looking for free Shopify alternatives. This will save you some money to be invested in your next purchase.