# Indian Cricket Balls **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 1, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836 "2003-11-01T15:12:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/1 "2003-11-01T15:12:18Z")
Cricket balls are usually leather, or at least in this country. But, India is the largest cricketing nation in the world, and predominatly Hindu. Hindus, believe the cow is a scared animal, right, and that’s why they don’t eat it? I’d assume that turning the skin of a scared animal into a ball and hitting it with a bit of wood is frowned upon. So what do Indians use when they play Cricket? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/2 "2003-11-01T15:20:31Z")
The same stuff you do. Cows are sacred, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a cricket ball out of a dead one. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/3 "2003-11-01T15:32:25Z")
It looks to me like Hindu cricketers just bite the bullet and play with leather balls. [http://www.cowsarecool.com/sport.html](http://www.cowsarecool.com/sport.html) > [@](#): > > During the course of our investigation, PETA discovered that many cricket balls are made from Indian leather. We contacted Sanspareils Greenlands, the largest manufacturer of cricket balls in India and the only company licensed to provide balls to Indian International Cricket and the Board of Control for Cricket, and asked them to manufacture a synthetic cricket ball. The company has agreed and hopes to introduce a synthetic ball very soon. This will be the first and only synthetic cricket ball available, coming from the largest cricket-playing nation in the world. It has the potential to spare the lives and end the suffering of thousands of Indian cattle. Granted, PETA is hardly an unbiased source, but… [http://www.sgcricket.com/html/CBTEST.HTM](http://www.sgcricket.com/html/CBTEST.HTM) > [@](#): > > The one and only ball approved by The Board of Control for Cricket in India for use in all first class domestic tournaments, and all international test and one-day matches. > > Four-piece construction > Alum tanned choicest selected leather, from first grade hide They do offer two synthetic balls, but they are billed as “for practice”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/4 "2003-11-01T15:33:02Z")
A related question. My cricket bat (which I bought solely for comedic intimidation of co-workers, but never got to use beacuse we were all made redundant) is made of willow. Seems pretty soft. I gave the bakk that came with it a gentle tap, and I can see an imprint of the stitching on the bat. If willow is so soft, why is it used? Are any other woods used to make cricket bats? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/5 "2003-11-01T15:36:22Z")
Indians use regular cricket balls. The biggest maker of cricket balls in the world is [Indian](http://www.sgcricket.com/html/CBTEST.HTM). If a Cricket playing Indian joined PETA, then he might use [something else](http://www.cowsarecool.com/sport.html) > [@](#): > > During the course of our investigation, PETA discovered that many cricket balls are made from Indian leather. We contacted Sanspareils Greenlands, the largest manufacturer of cricket balls in India and the only company licensed to provide balls to Indian International Cricket and the Board of Control for Cricket, and asked them to manufacture a synthetic cricket ball. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/6 "2003-11-01T15:38:52Z")
I’m soooooooo slow this morning. Doffs hat to **DDG**. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/7 "2003-11-01T15:48:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*A related question. My cricket bat (which I bought solely for comedic intimidation of co-workers, but never got to use beacuse we were all made redundant) is made of willow. Seems pretty soft. I gave the bakk that came with it a gentle tap, and I can see an imprint of the stitching on the bat. If willow is so soft, why is it used? Are any other woods used to make cricket bats? \*\* Can’t really say why willow is used, though it’s almoist certianly to do with it’s softness, but cricket bats are always made out of willow. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/8 "2003-11-01T15:51:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*If willow is so soft, why is it used? Are any other woods used to make cricket bats? \*\* Rule 6 of the [Laws of Cricket](http://www.lords.org/cricket/laws.asp) > [@](#): > > 1. Width and length > The bat overall shall not be more than 38 inches/96.5cm in length. The blade of the bat shall be made solely of wood and shall not exceed 4 1/4 in/10.8cm at the widest part. So the laws states the the bat has to made of wood. An Aluminium bat was used for about 5 minutes in 1979 and was immediately banned bacuse it damaged the ball. Why willow? It’s a combination of weight and durability. [This page](http://www.laverwood.co.nz/html/newsletters/2.htm) sums up everything better than I ever could. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/9 "2003-11-01T16:00:58Z")
Huh. That was unexpected, but sensible. So how come (if I’ve got Hindu religious laws right) you can’t kill a cow to make a hambruger, but you can kill a cow to make a cricket ball? Or do Indians only use balls made out of cows that dies of natural causes (as **dutchboy208** seemed to imply)? **Johnny L.A.** - Every cricket bat I’ve ever encountered has been made out of willow. They seem to stand up to most delivieries, though it is not unhard of for one to snap. I remember it was a source of pride when I was a kid that I’d hit the ball hard enough to create dimples in the bat, and especially if I’d managed to stain a circle of red where I’d made contact with the ball (a cherry). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/10 "2003-11-01T16:03:05Z")
Interesting article, **Tapioca Dextrin**. FWIW, my bat is made of low-quality Kashmir willow; but as I said, it’s only for use as a prop. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/11 "2003-11-01T16:14:12Z")
Since we’re now also talking about cricket bats, can anyone suggest the quickest/best method of seasoning one? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/12 "2003-11-01T17:51:19Z")
I used boiled linseed oil, but I expect that there are other methods. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/13 "2003-11-01T18:35:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Since we’re now also talking about cricket bats, can anyone suggest the quickest/best method of seasoning one? \*\* Linseed oil… most bats come with two coats already, but you need to add another. Take a spoonful, rub in in with a soft cloth, and leave it face up to dry overnight. You can recoat it if you want- I’d never use more than two coats. THEN you get to start knocking it in. You can use a regular ball (preferably a new one) but to avoid finger squishage you’ll want a mallet- essentially a cricket ball on a stick. Start out by banging it gently against the entire surface, harder in the center than around the edges. You’ll want to gradually knock harder and harder, although you don’t want to get all the way up to full power swings. Keep it up for about 3 hours, total- or as long as you possibly can. Make sure you don’t use the seam of the ball or mallet- every time you play, you’ll feel it whenever a ball hits those little seam dents. You’ll want to oil the back of the bat too, although this isn’t as important. If your bat cracks, sand it down and re-oil. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/14 "2003-11-01T18:40:55Z")
To answer Johnny’s question, a new willow bat is soft. A properly oiled and knocked-in bat is harder than a concrete elephant. Ever swung an aluminium baseball bat at a baseball? Now imagine hitting a ball twice as hard as a baseball with one. Metal or hardwood cricket bats would vibrate so much on impact you wouldn’t be able to feel your fingers after a while. ---
**Author:** ![maleinblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@maleinblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maleinblack)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-cricket-balls/210836/15 "2003-11-01T20:49:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Since we’re now also talking about cricket bats, can anyone suggest the quickest/best method of seasoning one? \*\* Everthing that **dutchboy** said is accurate.Just wanted to add that if a mallet is not available put the ball inside a thin sock and tie it up loosely and hang it so as to have the whole thing at thigh length.Keep on playing practice shots wih your new bat for a couple of hours. Now you have a nicely seasoned bat ready to use!