New Ball
Also known as: the new ball, taking the new ball
The new ball is a freshly manufactured cricket ball at the start of an innings (or available after a set number of overs), which swings and seams most readily due to its hard, lacquered surface and prominent seam.
A cricket ball starts its life hard, shiny, and with a raised, prominent seam. In this condition it is ideal for swing bowling and seam bowling — the aerodynamics and surface texture create the most movement through the air and off the pitch. As the ball ages through play, the shine fades, the seam flattens, and the ball becomes softer, favouring spinners or reverse swing with specific preparation. In Test cricket, a captain can take a new ball after 80 overs of the old ball; in limited-overs formats, a fresh ball begins each innings. Choosing when and how to use the new ball — and which bowlers to use it with — is a key tactical decision for captains. A team that takes wickets with the new ball in the first few overs has a decisive structural advantage for the innings.
Example
The captain opens with the two fastest bowlers under the new ball, which swings dramatically in overcast conditions, reducing the opposition to 20 for 4 inside the first ten overs.
Why it matters
The new ball is the most powerful bowling weapon at the start of an innings. SwingVantage's cricket analysis (in development) will use ball-age context to interpret movement data and give bowlers tailored advice for the period when swing is available.
Related terms
- Swing BowlingSwing bowling is making a fast-bowled ball curve sideways through the air — toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing) — by using the seam angle and the ball’s shine.
- Seam BowlingSeam bowling is a style of pace bowling where the ball is gripped so the seam is upright and the ball lands on the seam, causing it to deviate unpredictably off the pitch.
- In-SwingIn-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from off to leg (in towards the body of a right-handed batter), often targeting the stumps or pads.
- Out-SwingOut-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from leg to off (away from the body of a right-handed batter), enticing an edge towards the slip cordon.
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.