Kookaburra unveils a new ball exclusively made for T20 cricket

Ball manufacturer Kookaburra has been working extensively over the last few decades to improve the standards of the game by providing better sporting equipment. The game’s dynamics have changed drastically over the years and Kookaburra has played a major part in it as well. The white balls used in limited-overs cricket is manufactured by them and is used around the world.

Now, they’ve unveiled an exclusive ball designed for T20 cricket. The shortest format has brought a significant change in the way players, as well as the fans, approach this game. Realising that different formats need different types of balls, they’ve designed a ball which is bound to remain hard till the end of the 20 overs.

“As Twenty20 cricket evolved, Kookaburra thought there should be a way to create a ball specific to its needs rather than follow the traditional method of ball-making that is used in Test cricket,” Kookaburra spokesman Shannon Gill said.

This ball meets the power-hitting demands of the game

We often see a red ball deteriorate as the game progresses. Precisely for that reason, a new ball is provided after the end of 80 overs in an innings. Gill opined that the T20 action is more intense and explosive, which demands the ball to be hard till the end of 20 overs.

“A Test ball is designed to gradually deteriorate over 80 overs, this is an integral element to Test cricket. Twenty20 cricket has evolved quite differently; the ball is only needed for 20 overs and the action is more intense and explosive than Test cricket. This means gradual deterioration is not as big a factor, instead of a ball that meets the demands of the power hitting game has been created,” he added.

Will this ball make the bowlers’ life a lot more difficult is a question which might arise in the times to come. Gill also noted that they’re testing the ball and they’re getting good feedback from the players who have used it.

“In follow-up feedback, the players responded they did not notice any difference to the way the ball played as far as bounce and speed, but there were comments on the improved hardness of the ball through the 20 overs,” he noted.

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