What Cricket Balls Are Used In Test Matches?

5 min.

What Cricket Balls Are Used In Test Matches?

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Different Types of Cricket Balls Used in Test Matches

Did you know that different countries use different types of balls in cricket matches? Countries such as England and India have their own distinct type of cricket ball that they use in every match. The balls are like their own trademark. In this article, you will get to know what are the common types of cricket balls that are used in Test Matches and to determine whether they have a distinct difference from one another.

The Most Common Types of Cricket Balls.

Red leather-bound balls are usually used in all international-level games of cricket.

1. Kookaburras

Kookaburras were first made back in 1890 and until now, 128 years later, is still being manufactured in Melbourne, Australia, and has been titled as one of the most popular cricket balls for matches, snagging the first rank among all cricket balls. These balls weigh about 156 and are usually made by machines. Kookaburras are usually used in the Test matches of the cricket sport. It is made of a cork that is coiled with a rope, then wrapped in high-quality leather, with a sewn seam that raises the ball slightly in the middle. The Kookaburra cricket ball is usually in a deep red color, that is accentuated with hand-drawn designs in the color, gold. The most common print on the balls is the Kookaburra birds, perching on a brand since the cricket ball is named after Kookaburras.

(Top Countries Who Use the Kookaburras: 1. Australia, 2. New Zealand, 3. Pakistan, 4. Sri Lanka, South Africa.)

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2. Duke Balls

The second most popularly used cricket ball in Test Matches is the Duke Ball. The Duke Ball was originally made in Tonbridge in the United Kingdom, back in 1760. The Duke Ball just like the first ball mentioned is also made of a cork, bound by a rope inside, then bound by leather, and sewn. The Duke Ball is still red in color however, it is actually a darker shade than the Kookaburras. Its design is also in the color, gold, with a fancy logo of their brand. A lion, a unicorn, and a crown in between them. These balls are actually handmade which ensures the best quality among all other cricket balls because manufacturers spent hundreds of hours in labor, just to mass-produce the exclusive, Duke Ball. Due to its excellent quality, the Duke Ball actually lasts longer than the other balls. The handsewn seams of the red ball make the quality of its durability in throws, superior as well. The seams of the Duke Ball could last about 50 up to 56 overs and this cricket ball has also a good bounce to it than most cricket balls. These balls are mostly used by English cricketers in every match and they also apply grease all over the ball in order to make it waterproof.

(Top Countries Who Use The Duke Ball: 1. England and 2. West Indies)

3. Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) Balls

As for the third most popular cricket Test Match ball, this ball is also made up of a cork that was wrapped by a rope in order to form a round shape, wrapped again with red leather to further furnish the shape of the ball and the seams were also sewn. The Sanspareils Greenlands Balls were established by two brothers named, Kedarnath and Dwarkanath Anand who were from Sialkot (which is now called, Pakistan) back in 1931. The brand of SG used to only manufacture sports items but after the independence, the company of SG moved to Meerut, India and in the year 1991, the BCCI or the Board of Control for Cricket in India has made their approval for the Sanspareils Greenlands balls to be used for test Matches. Ever since then, every Test Match in India is played with the use of this ball. These balls were also handsewn which ensures great quality and their seams are wider than the other two balls. The Sandspareils Greenlands Ball’s logo is a shield with a big “S” in the middle and a lowercase “G” in the bottom part of the “S”, then the shield is also embellished with golden leaves around it.

(Top Countries Who Use the Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) Ball: India)

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How to Take Care of your Cricket Balls?

Your cricket balls need some tender loving care, too, and here are some tips that will ensure the maintenance of your cricket ball’s durability.

1. Make sure that there is no dirt or mud that is clinging in between the seams. Wipe it with a damp cloth, do not fully wet it with water, or else the seams will deteriorate due to wetness. If you want to thoroughly clean your cricket ball, grab a basin with water, mixed with a little bit of detergent. (Take note: too much of the detergent’s chemicals can lessen the durability of the cricket ball’s leather and can thin out the seams that bind the ball together.) Use a rag then dip it into the soapy water then gently scour through the seams of the ball to rid of the dirt that is hard to get. But only do the cleansing process gently to maintain the seams’ intactness and not loosen it.

2. Keep the ball dry.

3. Make sure that you do not hit the ball too hard. The brute force of striking the bat to the ball will damage it slowly but surely.

4. Make sure that you only roll the ball to the ground except for throwing it harshly to the opponent.

Are There Any Significant Differences Between The Popular Cricket Balls?

To conclude this article once and for all, this article will pinpoint whether these popular cricket balls have any differences. All the cricket balls that were mentioned did not really have differences besides their physical appearances, such as the seams, designs, and the shade of red that the balls possess, and how they were manufactured and quality, it is no denying that the Kookaburras, Duke, and Sanspareils Greenlands Balls are the top favorite Test Match balls of every cricketer and there is no such thing as worse than the other. Just a manner of preference.