Tennis ball cricket

Tennis ball cricket is a variant of cricket played using a tennis ball. It is very popular in South Asian cricket-playing nations, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It is also played by South Asian expatriates living in Middle-Eastern countries such as the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and by emigrants in the United States and Canada. It is mainly played by youngsters as a tennis ball is easier to play with compared to a conventional hard cricket ball. It is also safer as the tennis ball is soft and less likely to cause injury.

Tennis ball cricket, played in Uttar Pradesh, India. Note the bright yellow tennis ball.

History

Tennis ball cricket was pioneered in densely populated cities in India and Pakistan, such as Karachi, Calcutta, Lahore and Mumbai, where cricket grounds and protective gear are not common. It became popular in the early 1990s, and is responsible for grooming the talents of the cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar at an early age.

Rules and playing style

The rules of this game can vary significantly from standard cricket, and often the rules of regular cricket do not apply as they normally would. The number of overs in the game can vary from six to twenty-five. Considering that the ball is not as hard as a professional cricket ball, the use of protective gear like gloves, pads and helmets is optional. The game can be played on many surfaces, including streets or the roofs of buildings, which can lead to game-specific rules relating to the definition of the edge of the pitch. Popular brands of tennis balls in India include NODENS, Cosco or Vicky. In other countries, such as the U.S. and Canada, Wilson or Slazenger tennis balls are common.

Tournaments and competitions

As tennis ball cricket matches are usually short compared to first-class matches or ODIs, they are especially suited to recreational weekend play. In South Asian cities and villages, it is usually played out on the streets and roads or on agricultural fields. In Middle Eastern countries, it is usually played in the open desert, while in the US and Canada, baseball diamond grounds are utilized.

Players

Many international cricketers started their journey as a tennis ball cricketer. Sunil Gavaskar used to play gully cricket and that's the reason for him scoring more in the 'V' region on field. Kedar Jadhav climbed up the ranks playing in tennis ball tournaments.

See also
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