Different Cricket Balls

Cricket is a game that is very popular throughout the countries of the former British Empire. According to the Belco sports equipment company, Cricket is nearly a religion in the country of India. While it looks similar to American Baseball in that there is a bat and a ball, those may be the only similarities. One of the defining characteristics of Cricket is the hard ball that is used. It can come in a variety of colors and the reason why differs with the color.

How is the cricket ball made?
The cricket ball is very hard and compact. It it made by wrapping string very tightly around a cork core. It is then wrapped with a leather covering and sewn with a raised seam. The last layer is wrapped tightly around the ball with the seam at a 90-degree angle from the first seam. This final seam,the equator, has three lines of raised stitching on either side of the seam which is stitched on the inside. The ball must have a circumference of 8.81 to 9 inches.

Most Used Color
The traditional color of the cricket ball that is used for most daytime and two-day matches is red. Only one or two balls are used for an entire cricket match, and the shiny side is routinely polished by players. Should the ball go into the stands, the spectators must throw the ball back to the cricket field.

White Cricket Balls
The second most common color of cricket ball is white. This color of ball is used during night games and where floodlights are going to be used. In these conditions the white ball is easier to see. The white ball is also used in day games when the match will be one day in duration.

Pink Cricket balls
One of the newest colors of cricket balls to be used in match settings is the color of pink. The first use in a match occurred when MCC played Scotland on April 21, 2008. International play first saw the pink ball used in an international match in July, 2009 when the England Women's team defeated Australia at Wormsley.

The Orange Ball
According to a Fox News story in February, 2010, the pink ball has not enamored itself with players and fans. The latest color that will be tried is florescent orange that is reported to have better visibility at night games.