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Test cricket is the oldest format of the game and has a special place in the hearts of players and fans around the globe. Test cricket is different. The test cricket ball is also different from the balls used in the other formats. The test format lasts five days and has its own rules and regulations.
Cricket has evolved greatly over the years, but test cricket has its own charm amongst cricket fans and players. The format demands resilience, grit, and courage over five days, which makes it very special.
Many players have talked about test cricket being the ‘best format’ of cricket. The test format did lose some of its craze amongst fans after the emergence of T20 and franchise cricket leagues worldwide, but lately, it has been very popular amongst fans worldwide.
Some of the marquee test series are: The Ashes (Australia vs England), Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Australia vs India), and Pataudi Trophy (India vs England). There are other very interesting test series as well.
But one section of fans claim that test cricket, in modern times, is only ‘watchable’ when the SENA countries and India are playing against each other. And this may be true to an extent.
Introduction to the Test Cricket Ball
What Makes the Test Cricket Ball Unique?
Here, we will be talking about the test cricket ball in detail. How is it made, and what is the difference between the test match ball and the ball used in limited overs cricket, and all the details about the test ball.
Test cricket ball is different from the ball used in other formats of cricket. The format goes on for 5 days and the test cricket ball needs to last long without losing its shape. It must be rough and tough against wear and tear for longer durations as the test cricket ball is a very crucial part of the format.
Why Durability Matters in Test Cricket
In every test inning, a new ball is available for the bowling side every 80 overs. Reverse swing is an important aspect of test cricket. The test cricket ball must be in good shape even after getting old so that the art of reverse swing stays alive in the sport. Reverse is non-existent in white ball cricket in the modern time.
Firstly, the type of ball which is used for test matches is a leather ball. It is made from cork with wooden strings, a high-quality leather covering and a layer of lacquer. The test cricket ball is made from top-quality materials as it’s required to be robust and have consistent bounce and control for the bowlers.
Types of Test Cricket Balls
Mainly, the red test cricket ball is used in test matches. And, recently since the day-night tests have become popular, the pink test match ball is also used for the day-night matches.
Both these balls are made in a similar process but the leather of the pink test cricket ball is dyed in pink colour and it has an extra layer of lacquer to help in visibility. Both red and pink test balls are made to last long. Since test cricket is played in white uniforms, the red ball has the best visibility during the day. Similarly, the pink test match ball provides the best visibility during the night in white uniforms/jerseys.
They have a prominent hand-stitched seam which allows the ball to swing and seam. The pink test ball moves around quite a bit because of the extra layer of lacquer coating on the ball.
Mainly three brands of test cricket balls are used in international matches. The most popular brand is the Australian company Kookaburra. The Kookaburra Turf Red is used for test matches in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and a few other countries.
The test ball from Dukes is also quite popular. It is mainly used in the United Kingdom. The Dukes test ball is used for matches played in England, Scotland, Ireland and the West Indies. It swings a lot compared to the Kookaburra test balls as it has a very prominent seam and an extra coating of lacquer.
For test cricket and first-class matches played in India, the “Sanspareils Greenlands (SG)” test ball is used. The brand is commonly known as ‘SG’. The SG red and pink test cricket balls are used for matches in India. It also has a very prominent seam which helps the spinners to operate once the ball gets old. It also aids in reverse swing for the fast bowlers.
Test Match Ball Specifications
The test match ball is red and pink. As mentioned earlier, this is to avoid any visibility issues for the batters. Now let’s talk about the test cricket ball specifications (weight and size) in detail.
|
Level of Cricket |
Weight |
Size (circumference) |
|
Men’s Cricket |
5.50 – 5.76 ounces |
8.81 – 9 inches |
|
Women’s Cricket |
4.94 – 5.31 ounces |
8.25 – 8.88 inches |
|
Junior Cricket |
4.69 – 5.09 ounces |
8.06 – 8.69 inches |
Law 4 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has specified the weight and size of the test cricket ball. The test ball has different specifications for different levels of test cricket but it is the same for every format. The ball used in men’s test matches has a different weight and size. It is different for test match balls in women’s cricket and junior cricket.
According to MCC’s law 4.1, the weight of a test cricket ball for men’s cricket should be 5.50 ounces to 5.76 ounces (155.9-163 grams). Its circumference should be 8.81 inches to 9 inches (22.4-22.9 centimetres).
Law 4.6.1 of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) specifies the weight and size of the test cricket ball for women’s cricket. Its weight should be between 4.94 ounces to 5.31 ounces (140-151 grams) and it should be 8.25 inches to 8.88 inches (21 to 22.50 centimetres) in circumference.
The test match ball for junior cricket should weigh a minimum of 4.69 ounces to 5.06 ounces (133-144 grams). The test ball should have a circumference of 8.06 to 8.69 inches (20.50-22 centimetres). So, these were the test cricket ball specifications.
Regulations Governing Test Cricket Balls
There are other regulations from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) about the test cricket ball. Law 4.2.1 states that “All balls to be used in the match, having been determined by the umpires, shall be in the possession of the umpires before the toss and shall remain under their control throughout the match”.
You must’ve seen the umpires take the ball in their possession if a wicket falls or any other interruption happens during the game. This is mentioned in the MCC laws as well. Law 4.2.2 says, “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”.
Law 4.4 specifies the ‘new’ ball for matches which take more than one day. This law applies to test cricket and first-class cricket. It says that the captain of the fielding side can demand a new ball when the number of overs bowled with the old ball is 80 or more. The umpire needs to inform the other umpire, the batters and the scorers once the new ball is taken.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) also has other laws regarding the ball. MCC’s law 4.5 talks about if the ball is lost or if the ball is unfit to play.
It says “If, during play, the 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 batters and the fielding captain”.
Difference Between Test Cricket Ball and White Ball
Mainly cricket is played with the red ball and white ball. The red test cricket ball is used for test cricket and the white ball is used for limited-overs cricket (ODIs, T20Is and franchise cricket leagues). The pink test match ball is used in the day-night test match but the day-night test match is quite rare in world cricket.
The red test cricket ball, pink test match ball and white ball are all manufactured in the exactly same except for the colour of the leather used in the pink and white balls. The leather used in the pink test match ball and the white ball are dyed before they are used.
Another notable difference between the test cricket ball and the white ball is the ‘seam’. The test cricket ball has a very prominent seam as the ball needs to last long and move around for a longer duration in test cricket.
The test cricket ball also has a heavy coating of lacquer, especially the pink test match ball. This allows the ball to move around for longer durations which is needed in test cricket.
So this is everything about the test cricket ball. From types, colours, and why certain balls are used for test cricket to different test balls used in different countries. We also talked about test cricket ball specifications and the difference between test cricket balls and the white ball.
Now let’s move on to some of the frequently asked questions about the test cricket ball.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of cricket balls are there?
Mainly, the leather ball is used as the test cricket ball. It is made from a base of cork bound with wooden strings and a leather coating. A layer of lacquer is also applied to it.
What is the colour of the test cricket ball?
The test cricket ball is mainly of two colours: Red and pink. The red test cricket ball is mainly used for test matches. The pink test match ball is used for day-night test matches. Mainly, the red test cricket ball is used for test matches.
Why is the test cricket ball red and pink?
The red and pink colour allows for excellent visibility for the batters. As test cricket is played in all whites, red and pink test match balls have the best visibility.
How is a test cricket ball different from balls used in other formats?
The test cricket ball is made to last longer as test cricket goes on for 5 days. The test ball has an extra coating of lacquer which allows the ball to move around quite a bit compared to the balls used in the other formats.
Who decides the test cricket ball specifications?
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) regulates the test cricket ball specifications and other rules and regulations in cricket.
