The size and weight of a ball and a bat in cricket plays a huge role in the game. A slightly longer bat or a heavier ball can make a lot of difference. Heavier bats are used by betters to generate more power into a shot. While on the other hand lighter bats can be used to increase the speed of bat and play more shots.
Cricket bat
A cricket bat is only made from wood as since 1979 a law change specified that bats can only be made from wood. A cricket bat has a handle which is used by the batter to hold the bat. A cricket bat has a flat front face which is used to strike the ball. In the back a cricket bat has a ridge. This ridge is created to have wood concentration in the middle. This wood concentration is done to create a sweet spot from where the batter is supposed to hit the ball.
A cricket bat cannot be more than 38 inches long and the width no more than 4.25 inches. The depth of the bat should not be more than 2.64 inches. The update in the law in 2017 made no changes in the length, width or the depth of the bat. The update said that the edge of the bat cannot be more than 1.56 inches. To regulate the size of the bat the umpires are given an instrument to check the size of the bat. It is very rare that the length of a bat goes even beyond 35 inches.
Cricket Ball
A new ball according to the Laws of Cricket by the MCC states that the weight of the new ball has to be between 155.9 grams and 163 grams. The circumference of the ball needs to be between 8.81 inches and 9 inches. For women’s cricket the weight of the ball is 140 to 151 grams whereas the circumference of the ball has to be between 8.25 to 8.88 inches.
It is usual that a ball goes through wear and tear during the course of the match. The captain of the bowling team can approach the umpires to have the ball changed. The umpires have an instrument to check if the ball can be used further or not. If a ball is replaced it is replaced with a ball which has been used for a similar time. The umpires signal the batting team as well as the fielding captain that the ball has been replaced.
There are three types of balls. For the limited over games a white coloured ball is used. In test matches a red ball is used whereas in a day/night test a pink ball is used as it is easier to see a pink ball under the floodlights.
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Also Read: How much umpires are paid in Pakistan Super League (PSL)?
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