Non-Linear Viscoelastic Properties and Construction of Cricket Balls

The mechanical properties and the internal constructions of different brands of cricket balls were studied and compared. Compression and stress-relaxation tests showed that most brands were inconsistently manufactured. Different specimens of the same brand in some cases had visibly different constructions, which altered their mechanical behaviour. Viscoelastic properties of cricket balls follow the power law, with a viscosity constant, the exponent in the power law, between 0.05 and 0.08. Consistently manufactured balls show~ clear increase of the stiffuess with increasing deflection rate. The stiffuess of cricket balls varies, resulting into harder and softer balls. The lack of standardisation and testing of cricket balls is thus likely to have an impact on the game.