Cricket Balls

[RainbowPrism]

I keep getting questions pop into my head today, why do cricketers 'rub' their cricket balls down the side of their groin prior to bowling (it leaves an awful red mark on their whites too) ????? I have always thought this very strange....but rude ! lol....

[boxtops]

To improve the grip......

[Stephen_G]

It aids in swing bowling.

Keeping one sie polished (And the other side rougher) forces the air over the ball to go at differing rates and makes the ball move from left-to-right or vice-versa, depending on what the bowler wants it to do.

[jackthehat]

Creating a shine on one side of the ball affects the way it moves through the air once bowled.

[daftgrandad]

It,s to put a shine on one side,to enable the bowler to swing the ball in flight.

[RainbowPrism]

Gosh, that is quite scientific ! It never occured to me this action would aid the aim of the ball.....thank you !

[steg]

i thought they were putting their scent on the ball so all you needed to do was sniff it to see who flung it

[jomifl]

No Steg they only need to do that in glasgow

[Stephen_G]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_IV5i61HAE

Watch the second ball (From Simon Jones) and see how much the ball moves in the air

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_IV5i61HAE