New ball
The ball in cricket is presented in the form of a hard ball. It is often constructed out of phellema, which is a kind of cork, and then wrapped with thread before having a leather cover put on top of it. Different sizes of balls may be used in contests, with the size of the ball being determined by the gender and age of the participants. The average circumference is between 8.06 and 9 inches, while the average weight is between 4.69 and 5.75 ounces.
New ball in Cricket: The Basics
Additionally, the cricket ball comes in a variety of coloring options. First-class matches, also known as test matches, are historically played using red balls. White balls are often seen in games that have a restricted number of overs. Because such a contest takes place during the day, it is possible for the game to drag on until late in the evening. This is the reason why this occurs. Even at darkness, players and viewers are able to see the ball better when it is white. Pink balls have been used since the year 2010, when they were first introduced. Players often wear white clothing while playing, therefore balls of this hue are utilized to offer some contrast.
The assumption that every ball eventually wears out is a reasonable one. For the duration of a match, the ball may undergo a transformation that prevents it from being used in any other context (it is discarded). The game is significantly impacted by the many states that the ball is in. Let’s take a moment to examine the distinction between a new ball in cricket and one that has been used before.
The new ball plays a positive role in most cases for a batsman. After all, when the ball is solid, it offers a number of benefits, including the fact that it travels more quickly and bounces more effectively off the ground. It is unpleasant to the batter when the ball begins to wear out since its pace progressively reduces as it becomes older. However, there is a positive aspect to this. Those who bowl are to blame for this.
It is possible for the ball to become pliable at times. What this indicates is that he does not gain up pace as he is providing it, and the batter is able to simply beat him off. This is because white balls are the ones that lose their original attributes the quickest, which is why matches with a restricted number of overs need the usage of at least two new balls.
Fast bowlers have the ability to utilize a variety of balls, depending on the manner of serving they use. Bowlers who use the normal swing are more likely to favor the new object. Those who are experts in reverse swing, on the other hand, like the traditional new ball. When it comes to throws, however, the ball is no longer able to achieve high speeds until sometime between the 75th and 80th overs, as was described before. For any bowler, it is not a very pleasant experience.
What is spin bowling? Spin bowling is a throwing technique where the ball flies slowly and evenly, but it can abruptly change its trajectory after bouncing off the pitch. Bowlers who serve these throws are called spinners. So they only need the old ball. Because due to wear (roughness), the old ball bounces better and bounces off the ground with greater deflection. Of course, spinners are needed in the later stages of the game.
New Ball in Cricket: Useful Information
In test or first-class matches, new balls are used at the start of each inning. You can’t just change the ball. However, there are some exceptions in the Laws of Cricket:
- The ball is replaced at any time if it is badly damaged or lost;
- If the player deliberately changed the shape of the ball;
- In test cricket, the team captain can request a new ball after 80 overs have been played.
If the ball was thrown to the crowd, it is required to be brought back. It is important to note that in the event that the ball is misplaced or altered, it will not be replaced with a brand new ball in cricket but rather with a used ball that is in comparable condition (there is always a reserve).
Depending on the bowler, the ball may be intentionally altered in either its form or its condition. This is done so that the ball can develop speed faster or better bounce off the pitch. As a result, the Laws of Cricket include a number of issues that are subject to certain limitations applied to players:
- The player is prohibited from rubbing any substance into the ball, except saliva and sweat (but due to COVID-19, saliva is also prohibited at the moment);
- It is forbidden to rub the ball on the ground;
- To bully or lift the seam of the ball;
- It is forbidden to rub the ball with any rough object, including nails.
But, as they say, rules are needed to be broken. In cricket history, several times are recorded when players carried ball tampering with them. These players include New Zealander Chris Pringle, Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid, and the famous player Sachin Tendulkar and others.
Whether they are using a new ball or an old ball, the safety of the players is another vital consideration. It is possible that the balls might cause harm due to their hardness and the high speeds at which they travel. In 2017, a Pakistani footballer named Zubair Ahmed was killed after he was struck in the head with a ball. This tragic event is considered to be one of the most recent and horrible instances.
As a result, they are now searching for a variety of other solutions. They are attempting to utilize something that is comparable to tennis balls or to build them out of a material that is lighter; nevertheless, they are not yet officially used in contests until further notice.
