DUBAI – Cricket goods manufacturing company Kookaburra has launched a newball meant specifically for Twenty20 cricket, and they hope to introduce itin various T20 competitions across the globe as well as in the 2020 ICCWorld T20 to be held in Australia.

The ball, named ‘Turf20’, has been constructed in a way to hold up againstthe rigours of the slam-bang version of cricket, reported cricket.com.aulink>.The report added that the new ball was also used in a blind test in theNorth Territory Strike competition.

As of now, the same ball is used in 50-over and T20 cricket around theworld.

The company’s spokesman Shannon Gill said, “As Twenty20 cricket evolved,Kookaburra thought there should be a way to create a ball specific to itsneeds rather than follow the traditional method of ball-making that is usedin Test cricket.”

“A Test ball is designed to gradually deteriorate over 80 overs, this is anintegral element to Test cricket. Twenty20 cricket has evolved quitedifferently; the ball is only needed for 20 overs and the action is moreintense and explosive than Test cricket. This means gradual deteriorationis not as big a factor, instead a ball that meets the demands of the powerhitting game has been created.”

“In follow-up feedback, the players responded they did not notice anydifference to the way the ball played as far as bounce and speed, but therewere comments on the improved hardness of the ball through the 20 overs,”Gill said.