| Cricket balls come in different sizes and materials. For | | | | then you won't get the best quality; you can easily |
| practise or indoor games you use a plastic ball, and | | | | spend £12 or more if you want this. This is |
| for official games you use a cork ball. It actually | | | | because they are not particularly easy to make and |
| comprises of a core of cork, which is wrapped tightly | | | | the materials aren't cheap either. |
| with string, and covered by a leather case with a | | | | When the cricket ball is new you will find it bounces |
| slightly raised sewn seam. Red balls are used in official | | | | higher, and will probably swing more than when it is |
| day games, but you will probably use a white ball in | | | | old. This is why most sides will have their most |
| day / night matches. This is because red balls are | | | | explosive batsmen batting at positions 4 and 5. They |
| much harder to pick up under lights. | | | | want them to have the best chance of getting runs, |
| In men's cricket the ball must weigh between 5.5 and | | | | and by batting later when the ball is worn it will be |
| 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163 grams) and measure | | | | swinging less. That's the theory anyway. If the |
| between 8 13/16 and 9 inches (22.4 and 22.9 cm) in | | | | fielding team polishes one side of the ball constantly, |
| circumference. Youth & women's cricket use | | | | and lets the other side get rough, this can bring into |
| slightly smaller & lighter balls. | | | | effect 'reverse swing'. This means the ball will swing |
| For what you get, cricket balls are expensive. You | | | | the opposite way to normal, and in the hands of a |
| have to spend about £6 on a ball (based on | | | | top class bowler can be devastating. |
| 2009 prices) if you want buy a decent one. Even | | | | |