Study of Aerodynamics of a Cricket Ball : The Science Behind Swing Bowling

This research is concerned with nature and aerodynamic behaviour of cricket ball in flight. Here aerodynamic characteristics of a cricket ball with a mass of 156 gm and approximate diameter of 70 mm are determined. A sample cricket ball was fixed with a shaft in a wind tunnel. The aerodynamic characteristics have been analyzed by varying the rotational rpm of the cricket ball, where the axis of rotation for seam and shaft are same and the pressure difference between the upper and the lower surface of the cricket ball are determined using static manometer. In addition some experimental works have been carried out and verified by comparing with those of the results obtained numerically. The upward pressure, that creates lift, has increased almost linearly with the increase of ball position angle to approximately 15 to 30 degree and it also decrease with increase of ball rotational speed. Finally some conclusions have been drawn on the basis of the experimental result.