The cricket ball is a hard, solid ball with an interior of cork and a leather case with a slightly raised sewn seam. It must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces and between 8 13/16" and 9" around (for men's cricket, women's and youth balls are slightly smaller). The ball starts a game highly polished but the surface wears quickly as it is used and the bowlers will polish it continously leading to the red marks seen on their trousers. However, they will usually only polish one side of the ball to try and affect its trajectory in the air. They also use the seam to affect the delivery of the ball by holding it at different angles to make it bounce to one side or the other off the pitch. It is tempting to pick at the seam to raise it but this is strictly forbidden as is spitting on the ball or rubbing it with dirt, these things do happen however and occasionally lead to controversy even at the highest levels of the game. Former England captain, Mike Atherton, got into trouble after it was suggested he had deliberately interfered with a ball.

A ball is only used for a limited number of deliveries, typically 90 overs in test matches. It is then replaced by a new ball which encourages the faster bowlers who prefer a harder, shinier ball to bowl with. Should the ball go out of shape or be lost during a game the umpire will replace it with a ball of similar condition. Generally the ball is carefully looked after by the fielding team, no unnecessary wear is imposed on it and all the players like to frequently inspect and caress it. When the ball goes into the spectators it is also normally treated with respect and curiosity and is always returned promptly.

Balls are normally red but white ones have become more common with the advent of night cricket.

The cricket ball is notoriously hard, and potentially lethal. Frederick, Prince of Wales, died of complications after being hit by one, and Glamorgan player, Roger Davis, was almost killed by one. Hence today's batsmen and fielders often wear protective headgear.

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