Cricket Ball Types: Red, White, Pink and Brands
Also known as: dukes vs kookaburra, dukes ball, kookaburra ball, sg ball, red ball vs white ball, cricket ball weight, types of cricket ball
Dukes and Kookaburra are two makers of leather cricket balls, and both must meet the same Law 4 size and weight limits. The difference is the maker, not the rules. In Tests each home board picks the brand. Dukes supplies all Tests in England, Ireland and the West Indies.
Law 4 sets the size of a leather ball. A senior ball, size 1, weighs 156 to 163 g when new and measures 22.4 to 22.9 cm around. Size 2 and size 3 balls are lighter and smaller, for women's and junior cricket. ICC playing conditions use the same senior limits for men's international cricket.
Colour depends on the format. Tests use a red ball, or a pink ball in day-night Tests. ICC playing conditions require white balls for men's ODIs. Under ICC Test conditions, the home board chooses the brand and must tell the visiting board at least 30 days before the match. Wisden reports that Dukes balls are used for all Test cricket in England, Ireland and the West Indies, and in English domestic cricket.
Players often say different brands behave differently, for example in how long the seam stays proud. Makers' construction varies by model, so check the specific ball. Many juniors and social players use softer balls first, such as tennis balls, tape balls or soft cricket balls. Those are not covered by Law 4. Ask your league which ball it uses.
Tips by skill level
Ask your club which ball and size your league uses, then practise with it.
If your league changes ball brand, spend time in the nets with it. Notice how the seam wears and how it swings as it ages.
Example
A team that plays its home games with one brand tours a country that uses another. The bowlers spend extra net sessions learning how the new ball feels and moves.
Why it matters
The ball changes how the game plays. Knowing the rules and the brands helps you practise with the right ball for your matches.
Common mistakes
- Practising with a different type of ball from the one used in matches
- Assuming every leather ball behaves the same
- Moving to a hard ball before wearing the right protective gear
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Dukes and Kookaburra?
They are different makers. Both make leather balls to the same Law 4 size and weight limits. Players often say they behave differently, but the Laws treat them the same.
How heavy is a cricket ball?
A new senior leather ball weighs 156 to 163 g and measures 22.4 to 22.9 cm around, under Law 4.1. Smaller size 2 and size 3 balls are used in women's and junior cricket.
Who decides which ball is used in a Test match?
The home board, under ICC Test playing conditions. It must tell the visiting board the brand at least 30 days before the match.
Sources
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 4.1 (Weight and size: sizes 1, 2 and 3), pp. 18-19
- ICC Men's Test Match Playing Conditions (effective Oct 2026), clauses 4.1 and 4.2.1 (ball size; home board provides approved balls and names the brand 30 days ahead), p. 11
- ICC Men's ODI Playing Conditions (effective Oct 2026), clause 4.2.1 (white cricket balls), p. 10
- Wisden: Dukes supply balls for all Test cricket in England, Ireland and the West Indies and for English domestic cricket
Related terms
- New BallThe new ball is a freshly manufactured cricket ball at the start of an innings (or available after a set number of overs). This swings and seams most readily due to its hard, lacquered surface and prominent seam.
- Pink Ball and Day-Night Test CricketThe pink ball is used in day-night Test matches, where play continues under floodlights. Batters often find it harder to see, especially at dusk. In a survey of elite players, the pink ball was rated less visible than the red ball when batting and fielding. It was rated hardest to see at dusk under lights.
- Swing BowlingSwing bowling makes a fast-bowled ball curve sideways in the air, toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing). The angled seam, helped by keeping one side shiny, makes the air flow differently over the two sides of the ball.
- Junior Cricket Kit: What a Child NeedsFor introductory and soft-ball cricket a child needs little more than trainers, sports clothes, a sun hat and a water bottle. For hard-ball cricket they need a bat of the right size, a helmet with a grille, pads, batting gloves and a box. A thigh pad and neck guard are strongly advised. Many clubs lend kit to new juniors.
- Test CricketTest cricket is the oldest, longest, and most prestigious format of the sport — played over up to five days between two national teams, with each side receiving two innings and ten wickets to be dismissed.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.