Independent Sportcor Smartball Report

Data tested and provided by Glen Lichtwark & Micheal Heitzmann – University of Queensland

Ball classification against existing standards:

• All five Smartballs that were tested met the required standards for Premier classification
• An additional five balls also met the required standards for mass, balance, circumference and sphericity for pre-wear testing requirements (data not shown as this is not required for meeting standards, but can be made available on request)

Ball comparison to Kookaburra Turf (Elite White Cricket Ball)

• Three white Kookaburra Turf balls were tested for comparison. The range of values of Smartball and Turf balls overlapped for all metrics
• Based on the small sample of balls examined, the Smartball was slightly heavier, but also slightly smaller than the Turf; however, these differences are rather minute compared to the range typically observed across different balls. The Smartball has less deviation in the centre of gravity compared to the Turf demonstrating no imbalances before or after testing
• The original colour and change in colour were very similar when comparing the Smartball to the Turf. Note that all balls (both Smartball and Turf0 did increase in the ‘red’ component of the colour spectrum. This was due to the balls picking up some red colour from the ball catcher in the wear testing
• The Smartball had slightly reduced elasticity during the drop test (reduced bounce), but greater elasticity during the high energy impact test and a slightly higher stiffness in comparison to the Turf ball. However, these differences were again relatively small compared to the range seen in the previous testing. Stiffness is related to ‘hardness’, and therefore the Smart balls may be considered ‘harder’ and may remain ‘harder’ with wear compared to the Turf balls. Our tests cannot determine whether this will be in the perceptible range for players
• Visual wear was almost identical for both balls. There was some minor scuffing occurring in both balls, as well as some minor quarter seam separation or loose main seam stitching in isolated cases. However, all Smart balls passed the required standards after 300 cycles of impact