Influence of Seam Threading of a Cricket Ball on Its Trajectory
169
observed in the literature [3]. In comparison to plain sphere, drag force on the cricket
ball with threading is approximately three folds higher. The percentage increase in
cross-sectional area due to seam and threading is only 0.2%. As the drag force is
directly proportional to the area of cross-section, the reason is not just the increase
in the area of cross-section. Because of the threading provided on the cricket ball, an
increase in the vortex shedding is observed which in turn is the cause for increased
drag force (Fig. 5).
5 Conclusions
From the results discussed in the previous section, it may be concluded that the
threading on the cricket ball has an influence on the drag force and vortex shedding
of the models which in turn will have an impact on the trajectory. When compared
to the plain sphere, sphere with seam and sphere with seam and threading models
gave higher drag. These simulations also differentiate between the influence of seam
as well as the threading. For all the velocities simulated, the percentage increase in
the drag because of seam is ranging between 35.6 and 37.9 whereas the percentage
increase in the drag from sphere with seam to sphere with seam and threading is
ranging from 99.7 to 113.7. But the increase in the area of cross-section between the
sphere with seam and the sphere with seam and threading is negligible. Hence the
influence of cross-section area in defining the drag force is negligible. Also, vortex
shedding has a superior role to play in the increased drag force. This goes on to prove
that the threading has higher influence on the drag force than the seam.
In the simulations, the shape of the thread is considered to be cylindrical. This
may not be true in the real case scenario. But the perfect cylinder case gives a more
conservative result than other shapes similar to an ellipse. Distance between the
threading rows and the size of each stitch will also have an influence on the result.
Simulations carried out in this work are based on the threading currently available
in the commercial space. A further study into this aspect can help the cricket boards
to design threading on the ball that suits their home conditions.
References
1. Mehta RD (2005) An overview of cricket ball swing. Sports Eng 8(4):181–192
2. Mehta RD, Koga DJ (2000) Cricket ball aerodynamics: myth versus science
3. Mehta R et al (1983) Factors affecting cricket ball swing. Nature 303(5920):787–788
4. Barton N (1982) On the swing of a cricket ball in flight. Proc R Soc Lond A Math Phys Sci
379(1776):109–131
5. Scobie JA et al (2013) Fluid dynamics of cricket ball swing. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part P J Sports
Eng Technol 227(3):196–208
6. Penrose J, Hose D, Trowbridge E (1996) Cricket ball swing: a preliminary analysis using
computational fluid dynamics. Eng Sport, 11–19
169
observed in the literature [3]. In comparison to plain sphere, drag force on the cricket
ball with threading is approximately three folds higher. The percentage increase in
cross-sectional area due to seam and threading is only 0.2%. As the drag force is
directly proportional to the area of cross-section, the reason is not just the increase
in the area of cross-section. Because of the threading provided on the cricket ball, an
increase in the vortex shedding is observed which in turn is the cause for increased
drag force (Fig. 5).
5 Conclusions
From the results discussed in the previous section, it may be concluded that the
threading on the cricket ball has an influence on the drag force and vortex shedding
of the models which in turn will have an impact on the trajectory. When compared
to the plain sphere, sphere with seam and sphere with seam and threading models
gave higher drag. These simulations also differentiate between the influence of seam
as well as the threading. For all the velocities simulated, the percentage increase in
the drag because of seam is ranging between 35.6 and 37.9 whereas the percentage
increase in the drag from sphere with seam to sphere with seam and threading is
ranging from 99.7 to 113.7. But the increase in the area of cross-section between the
sphere with seam and the sphere with seam and threading is negligible. Hence the
influence of cross-section area in defining the drag force is negligible. Also, vortex
shedding has a superior role to play in the increased drag force. This goes on to prove
that the threading has higher influence on the drag force than the seam.
In the simulations, the shape of the thread is considered to be cylindrical. This
may not be true in the real case scenario. But the perfect cylinder case gives a more
conservative result than other shapes similar to an ellipse. Distance between the
threading rows and the size of each stitch will also have an influence on the result.
Simulations carried out in this work are based on the threading currently available
in the commercial space. A further study into this aspect can help the cricket boards
to design threading on the ball that suits their home conditions.
References
1. Mehta RD (2005) An overview of cricket ball swing. Sports Eng 8(4):181–192
2. Mehta RD, Koga DJ (2000) Cricket ball aerodynamics: myth versus science
3. Mehta R et al (1983) Factors affecting cricket ball swing. Nature 303(5920):787–788
4. Barton N (1982) On the swing of a cricket ball in flight. Proc R Soc Lond A Math Phys Sci
379(1776):109–131
5. Scobie JA et al (2013) Fluid dynamics of cricket ball swing. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part P J Sports
Eng Technol 227(3):196–208
6. Penrose J, Hose D, Trowbridge E (1996) Cricket ball swing: a preliminary analysis using
computational fluid dynamics. Eng Sport, 11–19