AERODYNAMICS OF

CRICKET BALL

MOHAN A

NITHIN T
PRATEEK BALIYA
 Contents

Cricket ball
Laminar flow
Turbulent flow
Spin
Swing
Cricket ball

ball weighs between 5.5 and

5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163 g) .
measure between 8 13/16 and 9
in (22.4 and 22.9 cm) in
circumference.

Leather

Hard cork
 Laminar flow

SMOOTH STEADY SMALLER

SHEAR STRESS

LESS SKIN
FRICTION DRAG.
MORE PRESSURE
DRAG
 Turbulent flow
HIGHLY DISORGANISED UNSTEADY

SHEAR STRESS

MORE SKIN
FRICTION DRAG.
LESS PRESSURE
DRAG
Topspin of a ball

The ball is rotated in

the direction of
movement of the ball
The ball experiences
force in the downward
direction
Sidespin of a ball

The ball rotates in the

direction opposite to
the movement of the
ball
The ball experiences a
force in upward
direction
 Conventional swing

For conventional swing, the ball swings in the same

direction that the seam is pointing.
Air flow is laminar on the smooth side and separates early.
Air flow is tripped by the seam to be turbulent on the rough
side and sticks to the ball for a long time.
Since the pressure is less on the rough side, the ball tends
to move towards the left.
 Conventional swing

Swing towards the batman Swing away from the batsman

 Reverse swing

It is observed when the ball is

old.
Both the sides of the ball is
rough and the flow is
turbulent on both sides.
The turbulent flow is tripped
by the seam and makes the
flow weaker. Hence the
boundary layer breaks earlier
on this side.
Hence the ball swings in the
opposite direction of the
seam.
Reverse swing