Cricket Ball Explained — Red vs White, Dukes vs Kookaburra & Weight
The cricket ball is the key piece of equipment in the game. Learn the difference between red and white balls, Dukes vs Kookaburra vs SG, how the ball changes through an innings, and why condition matters so much for bowlers.
The cricket ball is one of the two key pieces of equipment in cricket (along with the bat). It is a hard, leather-covered sphere with a slightly raised seam running around its circumference. The condition of the ball — how new or old it is, which side is polished and which is rough — fundamentally determines how much swing or spin a bowler can extract.
Ball specifications
| Specification | Men's cricket | Women's cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Circumference | 22.4–22.9 cm | 21–22.5 cm |
| Weight | 155.9–163 g | 140–151 g |
| Material | Leather (4-piece) | Leather (4-piece) |
Red vs white balls
| Feature | Red ball | White ball |
|---|---|---|
| Used in | Test cricket | ODIs and T20s |
| Visibility | Better in daylight | Better under floodlights |
| Durability | Lasts 80 overs | 2 balls per innings (shared) |
| Reverse swing | Pronounced after 40+ overs | Less pronounced |
| Seam | Prominent | Less prominent over time |
In ODI cricket, two white balls are used — one from each end — to ensure both balls remain relatively new throughout the innings, as a white ball deteriorates faster and can become difficult to see. In pink-ball Day/Night Tests, a pink ball is used to be visible under floodlights while still having the properties of a red ball.
Dukes vs Kookaburra vs SG
| Brand | Used in | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Dukes | England, West Indies, Ireland | Pronounced seam, swings more, lasts well |
| Kookaburra | Australia, South Africa, NZ, Subcontinent (ODIs) | Smoother seam, reverses well |
| SG (Sanspareils Greenlands) | India (Tests) | Prominent seam, high bounce |
How ball condition affects bowling
A new ball: hard and shiny on both sides, swings conventionally (moves toward the rough side). Overs 20-40: one side becomes rough from the pitch, the other is polished by the fielding team. Overs 40+: now old and rough on one side — conditions for reverse swing (ball swings toward the shiny side, opposite direction to conventional). This is why pace bowlers can become even more dangerous later in an innings.
Frequently asked questions
How many balls are used in a Test match?
In Test cricket, a new ball is available to the fielding team every 80 overs. In practice, teams typically take the new ball when it becomes available as it offers extra pace and bounce. A Test match uses around 2-4 balls per innings depending on how long the innings lasts.
Why is there a seam on a cricket ball?
The seam is a raised ridge of stitching running around the ball's equator. When the ball lands on the seam, it can deviate off the pitch — called 'seam movement'. Bowlers aim to bowl with the seam upright and land it precisely so the seam deflects the ball laterally off the surface.
Is using saliva on a cricket ball cheating?
Applying saliva to shine the ball was a traditional practice and perfectly legal until the ICC banned it in 2021 during COVID-19 and decided not to reinstate it. Using artificial substances (lipbalm, sweets) to alter the ball's condition is ball-tampering — illegal and punishable by penalty runs and suspension.