Does a cricket ball have to be red?

randomer

This may sound like an odd question, but is there a requirement for the ball used to be a specific colour?

In the past, I have seen the colour of "red" cricket balls vary from very light red to a very dark, almost black colour.

If a captain supplied a pink cricket ball, similar to the ones that were trialled last year in the UK, would the umpire or opposing captain be allowed to object, and if so, on what grounds?

TrueDub

Depends on the regulations of the competition. Most competitions will specify the colour of balls to be used, and it's usually red or white.

The shade of red does vary from maker to maker & ball to ball though.

randomer

TrueDub wrote: »

Depends on the regulations of the competition. Most competitions will specify the colour of balls to be used, and it's usually red or white.

Does it specify in the Leinster regulations? I know it does specify a white ball in the Alan Murray Cup, but I don't recall seeing it specify a red ball in any other competitions.

djimi

Im not sure if there is an official Leinster regulation, but I know you couldnt use a white ball in a game where players are wearing white. Whether or not it specifies that the ball must be red Im not entirely sure, but I can say that in my 18 or so years of playing cricket in the Leinster leagues, we have only ever used a red ball!

randomer

djimi wrote: »

Im not sure if there is an official Leinster regulation, but I know you couldnt use a white ball in a game where players are wearing white. Whether or not it specifies that the ball must be red Im not entirely sure, but I can say that in my 18 or so years of playing cricket in the Leinster leagues, we have only ever used a red ball!

If the regulations don't prevent it, and the laws of cricket don't prevent it happening, why not?

Could you use an orange or a pink ball? I know it is a hypothetical question, but what would the umpire do if a team supplied an orange ball. Would they be able to refuse its use and if so, on what grounds?

A couple of years ago North County played the first game of the DGM 45 Over league in coloured clothing, while their opposition wore whites. This was due to a miscommunication. I believe the bowlers had to wear a white sweater when they bowled, but all other players were in coloured clothing. What if they only had a white ball, and the opposition didn't have a spare new ball?

Edit: I would expect common sense to prevail in these situations, but based on the laws of cricket and the regulations, how would it be managed?

TrueDub

Well, imagine you were an umpire, Randomer, how might you handle the situation?

randomer

TrueDub wrote: »

Well, imagine you were an umpire, Randomer, how might you handle the situation?

I remember a few years ago playing in the UK we had some incredibly bright reader cricket balls. They were very bright. The opposition objected to the use of the balls on the ground that they were too bright. I can't remember how the issue was resolved.