All you need to know about cricket balls!!!!

International cricket has three playing formats i.e. ODIs, T20Is and Test Match and the balls also changes according to the formats. ODIs and T20Is always use white ball while red ball is used in the Test matches.

Before 1977, only red ball was used for all the formats but after 1977, white ball was introduced in the ODIs and T20Is.

                Credit: The Conversation

Reason for the white ball

The ICC introduced white ball in ODIs and T20Is because these matches always played day-night and the red ball was not visible at night for the batsman and the fielder as well. White ball was easily visible for the players in dark of night so the white balls became permanent in the international cricket.

Reason of red balls in test match

Test matches always have the red ball. The basic reason is that white ball is not visible to the players very well because of the white clothes of the players. The second reason is that white ball cannot be used for so many overs and a test match has 90 overs per day which can be easily played with red ball.

What can a player do with the ball legally??

The players in the match are allowed to rub their ball with their handkerchiefs or with their lowers. The basic reason why players rub their balls because if ball become rough from one side and smooth from another side, so it swings easily and make tough conditions for batsman. If any fielder is catched to rub the ball with grass on ground or with their fingers, it will comes under ball tempering and the particular fielder could be banned.

Why pink ball

ICC introduced pink ball in the cricket specially for the test matches. After the test matches became day-night, players were getting problem to see the ball at night, so ICC introduced pink ball which is clearly visible at night.

The first international match with pink ball was played between Australia and New Zealand in 2015.