Topic: Balls (Read 3095 times)

Kevtheplumber · « **on:** June 13, 2015, 01:17:45 PM »

Was discussing quality of balls with Paul Aldred on his Facebook page. What balls do people use and how do we rank them in quality.
We get Hunts county sovereign balls and are being made to use pink ones in the league as a trial. Not sure how good they are.
We've seen a good 4 plus bats crack etc in our team in last 2 seasons and a few opposing teams have had issues. Wondering if balls we are told to buy are poor quality.

horseman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:35:16 PM »

Ive always had an issue with leagues choosing balls. Because they get the ball stamped with the league logo and say you have to use these, doesnt make them decent. In my opinion the exact opposite. You cant beat a good readers or dukes or even tiflex (never used them but the quality can be seen).

liscon12 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:40:04 PM »

My league always use Oxbridge balls, they're OK but I find the seam abit too wide compared to a nice dark Duke cherry

RF · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:50:54 PM »

We use Readers in Lincs League, they are fantastic.

Never come across anything else that is as good, no complaints from me

Jaffa · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2015, 03:05:16 PM »

We use Tiflex Mangas (Oxbridge) and they�re ok meaning not bat breakers.

Half of the last batch were visibly oval though and there was a also a noticeable weight difference between them.

I have always found cricket balls expensive for what they are. Does anyone else agree?

There must be a ball that lasts at least 35 overs, has a decent seam to please the quicks and spinners for a fiver.

Ams4287 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2015, 03:29:25 PM »

Quote from: RF on June 13, 2015, 01:50:54 PM

We use Readers in Lincs League, they are fantastic.

Never come across anything else that is as good, no complaints from me

We're Readers also in the bassetlaw league. Before standardising we used Dukes which in my opinion were the best I've used (did help during spring I could get them hooping about).

DiscoStu · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2015, 03:42:18 PM »

Our league uses the ball as a money maker. They have a deal with a supplier to get the league stamp on a few hundred very average balls and makes it compulsory for clubs to use them. We reckon they make a few quid profit per ball. This cosy little deal means they are unwilling to make any changes to improve the quality and, in the end, affects the standard of cricket played.

Marc28 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2015, 04:01:31 PM »

I know Paul as he's involved with our club in Derby,
We use gunn and Moore and of late they've been woeful no lacquer and just die after 5-6 overs very hard to keep a side shiny, in order for swing.
Wouldn't recommend them in all honesty,

Cin88 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 13, 2015, 07:30:34 PM »

My club uses Readers but I think its at the discretion of the clubs as to what balls to use, i've batted against some real brick like balls in the 18 months i've been at this club. There's been a couple of complaints over teams using bat breakers this season.

Getting the lads to stop using bat breakers in the nets is difficult, i've already got two sets of cracks on my bat from having to bat against poor quality balls.

I do know that one of the other local leagues uses Readers exclusively and makes clubs buy the league stamped ones which is expensive to the point of my former club having a ball sponsoring system to help raise the money to pay the league.

simonmay5 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2015, 07:31:30 PM »

We only use readers in the Kent league

frooper11 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 13, 2015, 07:32:53 PM »

We've used Tiflex for the last 5 years or so and found the quality fairly consistent. Can't really go wrong for �9 a pop. Trouble is we play a lot of away friendlies against higher league opposition, some of these sides though use really poor quality balls.

I don't understand how the quality of balls can differ so much, surely all cricketing sides want a decent quality ball?

Jaffa · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2015, 07:46:14 PM »

Quote from: frooper11 on June 13, 2015, 07:32:53 PM

We've used Tiflex for the last 5 years or so and found the quality fairly consistent. Can't really go wrong for �9 a pop. Trouble is we play a lot of away friendlies against higher league opposition, some of these sides though use really poor quality balls.

I don't understand how the quality of balls can differ so much, surely all cricketing sides want a decent quality ball?

Must have had a bad batch. I did buy them directly from Tiflex and mailed them about it but didn�t get a reply.

If you don�t mind me asking, where did you buy them and for what quantities for �9 a pop?

frooper11 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2015, 07:49:22 PM »

Think we got the bottom of the range St James or Oxbridge if I remember correctly. I emailed them directly and asked for a deal if we bought in bulk. May have been 9.50 a pop and of course postage on top.

Kevtheplumber · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2015, 09:31:38 PM »

I'm not sure where the hunts sovereign sits in comparison to others mentioned, I'm sure we pay around �8 a ball yet online they are going for �25-30. No doubt as its hunts league and the fact the club buy its gear ie spare helmets, wk gear and books etc we get a good deal. At �30 I'd expect it to be decent but I can't imagine we are getting �22 worth od discount. They are definately these balls linked below, maybe they are ok. Shine is ok even after 20 overs. We have a new ball each innings now also so have no control on what opponents bring.

http://www.cricketdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/Cricket-Balls/Hunts-County-Cricket-Balls/Hunts-County-Sovergin-Crown-Cricket-Ball-709001

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2015, 11:24:31 PM »

We use dukes and by far the best ball. It's really annoying when clubs skimp on balls as a good quality one improves the cricket played by a long way.

Author Topic: Balls (Read 3095 times)

Kevtheplumber

Balls

horseman

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liscon12

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RF

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Jaffa

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Ams4287

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DiscoStu

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Marc28

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Cin88

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simonmay5

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frooper11

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Jaffa

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frooper11

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Kevtheplumber

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ProCricketer1982

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