This may sound a little strange for many athletes and fans in the US, for we take for granted that our footballs, baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, etc are all made in a uniform fashion adhering to standards. Cricket is a different ball game (pun intended). Not all cricket balls are created equal and that can have implications for international matches. I bet you didn't know most cricket balls are manufactured Australia, India and Pakistan.
In contrast to other sport balls, most cricket balls are still hand-made, which may affect the consistency of manufacturing and thus the properties of a ball. The method of construction affects their stiffness and how well they perform under compression. Softer balls are more forgiving, providing longer contact with the bat, thus allowing the batsman to place the ball more precisely.
I'm just getting an appreciation for the game, thanks to a new, shorter format, but the implications for major matches could be huge. Just think if this was an issue for the World Series, or a major football game.
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