Claim: Cricket has players.

A cricket ball is a hard , solid ball used to play cricket . A cricket ball consists of cork covered by leather , and manufacture is regulated by cricket law at first-class level . The manipulation of a cricket ball , through employment of its various physical properties , is a staple component of bowling and dismissing batsmen . Movement in the air , and off the ground , is influenced by the condition of the ball , the efforts of the bowler and the pitch , while working on the cricket ball to obtain optimum condition is a key role of the fielding side . The cricket ball is the principal manner through which the batsman scores runs , by manipulating the ball into a position where it would be safe to take a run , or by directing the ball through or over the boundary .   In test cricket , professional domestic games that spread over a multitude of days , and almost the entirety of amateur cricket , the traditional red cricket ball is normally used . In many one day cricket matches , a white ball is used instead in order to remain visible under floodlights , and since 2010 , pink has been introduced to contrast with players ' white clothing and for improved night visibility . Training balls of white , red and pink are also common , and tennis balls and other similar-sized balls can be used for training or informal cricket matches . During cricket matches , the quality of the ball changes to a point where it is no longer usable , and during this decline its properties alter and thus can influence the match . Altering the state of the cricket ball outside the permitted manners designated in the rules of cricket is prohibited during a match , and so-called `` ball tampering '' has resulted in numerous controversies .   Injuries and fatalities have been caused by cricket balls during matches . The hazards posed by cricket balls were a key motivator for the introduction of protective equipment .  '' '