CRICKET BALL GUIDE

CRICKET BALL SIZES, WEIGHTS, MATERIALS, COLORS & TYPES

Cricket was invented in England in the mid-16th century, and it has become an international sport played worldwide. Since its inception, the sport has seen changes to cricket bats, game formats and rules, but the balls used to play cricket have remained fairly unchanged.

Choosing the right cricket ball for your needs is vitally important for performance and safety reasons. With this in mind, we have created a comprehensive cricket ball guide that covers topics such as cricket ball sizes, weights, materials, colors, types and more.

After reading our guide you will be well equipped to buy cricket balls with confidence.

HISTORY OF CRICKET BALLS

The first cricket balls were manufactured in the 18^th century in an English county called Kent by the Duke family, who ran a business from their cottage. In 1775 the family obtained a Royal Patent for the cricket balls from King George IV. This led to the first six seam stitched ball. These ‘Dukes’ cricket balls are used in test matches played in the UK and the West Indies to this day.

CRICKET BALL SIZES AND WEIGHTS

In this section we will go through the regulation size and weight of cricket balls for men’s, women’s and junior cricket, so you know exactly what size cricket ball you need to buy.

Cricket Ball Size

For senior cricket, as per law 4.1 of the MCC laws of cricket a cricket ball, when new, should measure no more than 9in (22.9cm) in circumference and no less than 8.81in (22.4cm). This means the regulation diameter of a cricket ball can be anywhere between 2.8in (7.12cm) and 2.86in (7.28cm)

For women’s cricket matches, the MCC state that the cricket ball circumference must be between 8.25in – 8.88in (20.96cm – 22.56cm). This makes the ball diameter between 2.63in (6.67cm) and 2.83in (7.18in)

For junior hard ball cricket, which is classed as any cricket where the participants are between the ages of 10 - 13, a smaller cricket ball is used. The overall size of a junior cricket ball can be anywhere between 8.06in (20.47cm) and 8.69in (22.07cm). This makes the diameter of the balls between 2.57in – 2.76in (6.53cm – 7.01cm).

Cricket Ball Weight

MCC laws state that all new men’s senior match cricket balls should weigh between 5.5oz (155.9g) and 5.75oz (163g). As women’s cricket balls are smaller in size, they are also lighter. The regulation weight of a women’s cricket ball ranges from 4.94oz (140g) to 5.31oz (151g).

Junior cricket balls are also lighter in weight due to their smaller size. The weight of these cricket balls falls in the range of between 4.69oz (133g) and 5.06oz (144g).

WHAT IS A CRICKET BALL MADE OF?

Cricket balls can be made using a variety of materials. The materials used will largely depend on the type of cricket ball and the performance characteristics required from the ball. Softer cricket balls are used for some junior play and training drills, so they use different materials than those used in adult's cricket.

In this section we’ll cover all the different materials used to manufacture different types of cricket balls. For each material, we’ll detail its specific performance characteristics, which cricket balls use that material and its typical users.

Leather and Cork

Hard cricket balls are used in all matches and training where the participants are 10 or over. Each cricket ball consists of several materials, including a spherical core made of cork or a cork/rubber composite that is then wrapped in nylon yarn, before being cased in cow-hide leather. These materials contribute to the durable, hard-wearing nature of the cricket ball, and give the ball a consistent bounce off the wicket and a comfortable feel off the cricket bat. The ball is held together by six rows of robust nylon stitching and is finished with a coat of lacquer

Any child under the age of 10 should avoid using a hard cricket ball. Softer alternatives are better suited to them as they reduce the risk of injury and perform in a way that suits their level of play.

Plastic

Plastic cricket balls are manufactured from a synthetic thermoplastic known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This makes for a softer cricket ball that is suitable for indoor matches, under 10s cricket matches, training drills and backyards. The softer ball reduces the risk of injury for younger players and prevents damage to recreation center walls from leather/cork cricket balls. Despite being lighter and softer, plastic cricket balls are still highly durable and can retain their shape under the strongest of impacts due to the quality of the PVC.

Some plastic cricket balls such as ‘Incrediballs’ will still feature a traditional stitched seam design to give the ball a realistic a feel as possible to leather/cork cricket balls. Other plastic alternatives such as ‘wind balls’ and ‘garden balls’ will have a plastic seam that is molded into the design of the ball but still provides a realistic feel when gripping the ball.

Rubber

Rubber is a less common material used for cricket balls but is still used to manufacture certain training balls. Slightly heavier in feel to plastic, rubber balls are durable and can withstand the demands of frequent use.

Rubber is a suitable option for balls that are used to help develop bowlers’ ability to swing the ball. The FORTRESS Swing Ball is split into two halves, one half rubber and the other half a tennis ball. Due to the rubber half having a pronounced molded seam, a smoother surface than the tennis ball and being heavier than the tennis ball half, the ball will swing through the air towards the lighter side of the ball. Being able to swing the cricket ball is a useful skill to have as it makes the ball more difficult to hit, so training with a swing ball will get bowlers used to controlling the direction and amount of the swing.

HOW IS A CRICKET BALL MADE?

Cricket balls are now typically manufactured using machinery and then hand stitched. In years gone by, all cricket balls were entirely made by the hands of skilled crafts people. The cork core of the cricket ball is made by a high-pressure machine pressing a thick piece of cork into shape. Once the cork is a sphere or block shape similar in size to a ping pong ball, glue is applied to the outside of the core.

A high-speed stringing machine then wraps nylon or wool yarn around the cork sphere that is secured tightly in a clamp. Each core is wound very tightly with at least five layers of yarn to give the cricket ball an even bounce.

The outer leather casing used to cover cricket balls is delivered in huge sheets and dyed to the relevant color, before being cut into shape. The sheets are cut by machines into separate halves or quarters and placed into semi-circular molds to form the spherical shape of the ball, with any excess leather overlapping the mold being trimmed off. If cut into quarters, each quarter is attached to another to form each half of the ball. Each half-ball is then put together using six rows of stitching to give the cricket ball its structural integrity and create what is known as ‘the seam’.

Each cricket ball is then finished with a thin coat of lacquer that adds strength to the ball and gives it a polished, shiny finish. Lastly, the manufacturers name and logo are stamped onto the ball, before the weight, circumference, shape and bounce of the cricket ball is quality controlled.

WHAT COLOR ARE CRICKET BALLS?

Cricket balls come in a range of different colors. The color of cricket balls used in competitive, senior matches will depend on the format of the game. If you are playing a long format of cricket, such as 4-day first class cricket or 5-day test matches then a red ball will always be used. This is to contrast with the white clothing worn by players and white sight screens at each end of the field. Club cricketers and junior cricketers between the ages of 10-13 will often wear white clothes and use a red ball.

Limited overs cricket such as 50-over cricket, T20 cricket and ‘The Hundred’ will use a white ball. This is to contrast with the colored clothing that is worn and to make the ball more visible, as sometimes limited overs games can be played at night-time under floodlights.

Other colors such as pink and orange are used by some men’s and women’s leagues or cups played in colored kits for enhanced visibility, as most club teams will only have white sight screens, making a white cricket ball unsuitable.

WHAT TYPE OF CRICKET BALL SHOULD YOU BUY?

At Net World Sports we carry a comprehensive range of cricket balls. If you’re looking for a top of the range match ready cricket ball, a premium quality training ball, or a softer highly durable backyard cricket ball, our selection of cricket balls has got you covered. Use the table below to find the perfect cricket balls for you, your child or your cricket club!

FORTRESS CRICKET BALL COMPARISON
Name	Suitable For	Material	Weight	Benefits
Royal Crown – Hand Stitched	County & test matches	Grade 1 4-piece cow-hide leather, Portuguese cork & rubber core	Men's - 5.50 oz (156g), Women's - 5.00 oz (142g), Junior - 4.75oz (135g)	Test quality, Hand stitched 6-ply thread
Royal Crown – Machine Stitched	County & test matches	Grade 1 4-piece cow-hide leather, Portuguese cork & rubber core	Men's - 5.50 oz (156g), Women's - 5.00 oz (142g), Junior - 4.75oz (135g)	Test quality, Machine stitched prominent seam
Match Crown	County matches	Grade 1 cow-hide leather, Cork & rubber core	Men's - 5.50 oz (156g), Women's - 5.00 oz (142g), Junior - 4.75oz (135g)	County quality, Highly durable
Indoor Pro	Indoor Leagues & Tournaments	Traditional yellow leather, PU-injected core	4oz (113g)	Softer design for safety, Suitable for indoor matches
Club Crown	Club & school level training & matches	Cow-hide leather exterior, Cork & rubber core	Men's - 5.50 oz (156g), Women's - 5.00 oz (142g), Junior - 4.75oz (135g)	Great value, Club grade
Incrediball	Training sessions at all levels	Heavy duty plastic exterior, High-quality foam core	Senior - 3.32 oz (94g), Junior - 3.17oz (90g)	Match ball performance, Reduced injury risk
Wind Ball	Training sessions & informal games	Heavy duty plastic	Senior - 3.17oz	Reduced risk of damaging property, Reduced injury risk
Backyard Cricket Ball	Training sessions & informal games	Heavy duty plastic	Senior - 3.17oz	Reduced risk of damaging property, Reduced injury risk, Ideal for backyard games
Coachaballs	Training sessions & informal games	Soft Heavy duty plastic	3oz	Reduced risk of damaging property, Reduced injury risk, Ideal for indoor & outdoor games

Now that you have read our complete cricket ball guide you should be well placed to buy a cricket ball.

At Net World Sports we don’t only specialize in cricket balls. As well as our premium quality cricket balls, we also carry other cricket essentials including batting equipment, wicketkeeping gear, stumps, cages, mats plus much more! No matter where you are on your cricketing journey, we have the equipment you need!