Cricket has been played for over a century, and throughout this time, the sport has evolved, particularly in terms of the equipment used.
While batters from earlier times lament that modern-day bats are much heavier and thicker than those used in the past, cricket balls have also undergone significant changes over the years. One of the major differences is the color of the ball, which varies depending on the format of the game.
In this article, we explore the different colors of cricket balls and how their behavior is influenced by their manufacture and other factors.
In brief, there are three main types of cricket balls based on color: the red ball, the white ball, and the pink ball.
Red Ball
The red ball is the oldest type of cricket ball used in the sport, predominantly in first-class matches and day Tests, which are considered cricket’s original and oldest format. Different manufacturers produce the red ball depending on the region where the game is played. In England and the West Indies, the red ball used is made by Duke. Designed to suit English conditions, the Dukes are darker in shade and known for their significant swing, with the seam remaining prominent even after many overs.
The Kookaburra is another type of red ball used in Test matches in countries like Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. Manufactured in Australia, the Kookaburra ball swings for the first 30 overs but becomes easier for batters to play after that.
In India, the red ball used in both first-class and Test cricket is the SG ball (Sansparelis Greenlands). In use since the early 90s, its wider seam offers spinners a better grip, making it ideal for India’s spin-friendly conditions. The SG ball is also known to swing after the 30-over mark.
White Ball
Introduced in 1977 by Australian tycoon Kerry Packer, who pioneered day-night cricket, the white ball became a reality after being discussed in the 1930s. The white ball was specifically designed for day-night games to improve visibility under lights, especially since batters found it difficult to spot the red ball.
Unlike the red ball, the white ball deteriorates much faster, especially after swinging in the initial overs. To manage this, in One Day International (ODI) matches, one white ball was used from the first to the 34th over, while a reconditioned ball was used for the final 16 overs. However, since 2012, two white balls are used in ODIs, one from each end, with each ball lasting for 25 overs. The Kookaburra ball is primarily used for white-ball cricket.
Pink Ball
The pink ball emerged in the 2000s as day-night first-class matches and Tests began to gain traction. White balls were unsuitable for Tests due to their inability to last for 80 overs and their clash with players’ white attire. As red balls were also deemed unsuitable under lights, the cricketing world decided that the pink ball would be the best solution for day-night Tests.
Kookaburra manufactures pink balls for Test cricket in most countries, while India uses SG pink balls, having first introduced them in 2019. England uses the pink Duke ball for day-night Tests. The nature of the pink ball’s behavior is still being studied, with it known for generating swing and seam, and in India’s pink-ball Test against England in Ahmedabad in 2021, it also produced significant spin.