The variation in price and quality is largely governed by the quality of the centres and the leather used, which will then have an influence on shape retention and how long a ball will keep its shine. A traditional cricket ball is red in colour, but more and more games are now being played using coloured balls such as white, pink or orange. Younger children will be introduced to the game by using ‘soft’ windballs or ‘incrediballs’ which bridge the gap between a soft ball and a hard leather ball.

Leather cricket balls come in three weights:

• 5½ oz for senior cricket (under 14’s and above)
• 5 oz for women’s cricket
• 4¾ oz for junior cricket (up to under 13’s)

Prices generally range from £3.50 for a junior windball to between £12 – £25 for a suitable leather match-ball.