Cricket Ball Rules

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in London was founded in 1787 and devised the rules of the game. The International Cricket Council (ICC) emerged as the world controlling body in 1967 but the MCC still has jurisdiction over the rules of the game. The MCC controls Lord's Cricket ground, which is home to Middlesex County Cricket Club, in St. John's Wood, London, England. Lord's is considered to be the home of cricket by everyone involved in the sport.

  1. Ball Construction

    • The cricket ball is made with two halves of leather wrapped around the outside as a casing with cork on the inside. The leather is stitched together to form the seam that runs through the center of the ball. The seam is slightly raised, which is why bowlers try to get this part of the ball to hit the pitch when it bounces and make the ball move in a different direction.

    Weight and Size

    • The new ball, under the laws of the game for men's cricket, shall weigh no less than five and a half ounces, nor more than five and three quarter ounces (155.9 to 163.0 grams) and shall measure not less than eight and 13/16 inches nor more than nine inches (22.4 to 22.9 centimetres) in circumference.

    Approval and Control

    • The match umpires will be in charge of the ball for the duration of the game. They will inspect the ball at the fall of a wicket and when there is any interruption of play. A new ball may be used at the start of each innings or when a total of 75 overs has been bowled. The ball may be replaced when it is unfit for use or lost.

    Specifications

    • The specifications of the ball differ slightly for women's and junior cricket. The following specifications will apply to women's cricket. The weight limit is from four and 15/16 ounces to five and 5/16 ounces and circumference from eight and a quarter inches to eight and 7/8 inches. The weight limits for under-13 junior cricket are from four and 11/16 ounces to five and 1/16 ounces and the circumference from eight and 1/16 inches. to eight and 11/16 inches.