The Cricket ball is a basic requirement for any game of Cricket to happen. A Cricket ball is made of cork and latex and is covered by leather. This leather is held together by stitching which is called the “Seam”. The ball, when new, shall not weigh less than 5½ ounces/155.9 grams, nor more than 5¾ ounces/163 grams (156 grams is Optimum), and shall measure not less than 813/16 inches/22.4 cms, nor more than 9 inches/22.9 cms in circumference.
Based on format of the game, Cricket balls are made of different colors these days i.e. Red, White, and Pink etc. In Test and First class Cricket matches, Red ball is being used. In One day limited overs matches and T-20 Matches (Day/ Night Matches) a White ball is being used. Recently ICC (International Cricket Council) has allowed the Pink Ball to be used in Day/ Night Test Matches. The shape and dimensions are the same for Red, White & Pink balls. The seam that runs around its circumference can make the ball bounce away and towards the batsman once it hits the wicket.
All balls to be used in the matches are being approved by the umpires and captains, Balls shall be in the possession of the umpires before the toss and shall remain under their control throughout the match. The umpire shall take possession of the ball in use at the fall of each wicket, at the start of any interval and at any interruption of play.
Unless an agreement to the contrary has been made before the match, either captain may demand a new ball at the start of each innings. In a match of more than one day’s duration, the captain of the fielding side may demand a new ball after the prescribed number of overs has been bowled with the old one. Number of overs shall not be less than 80 overs. The umpire shall inform the other umpire and indicate to the batsmen and the scorers whenever a new ball is taken into play.
If, during play, the Cricket ball cannot be found or recovered or the umpires agree that it has become unfit for play through normal use, the umpires shall replace it with a ball which has had wear comparable with that which the previous ball had received before the need for its replacement. When the ball is replaced the umpire shall inform the batsmen and the fielding captain.
