Tape ball
A tape ball is a
History
The practice of using electrical tape to repurpose the ball originated in Karachi street cricket during the 1960s,
In the 1980s, tape ball cricket circuits started to emerge across Pakistan where fiercely competitive games would be played in front of several hundred spectators and formal rules were drawn up. For example, the 'K2 Brother Cricket Tournament', referred to as a series of tape tennis matches, allowed for 8 players and 8 overs per side and also stipulated the use of the Japanese tape manufacturer,
By the early 1990s, tape ball cricket continued to enjoy popularity in practically every city and most of Pakistan's national side comprised the likes of Miandad, Akram and other cricketers who had grown up playing it. For children and young adults of the time, Pakistan's 1992 World Cup victory saw nationwide interest in the sport grow even more and tape ball was thriving amongst a new generation of fans who had been galvanised by their homeland's achievement.[15] Non-pecuniary rewards associated with amateur tape ball tournament performances now included the izzat (honour) amongst one's community and feelings of personal pride. The most successful players on the circuit would be garlanded with flowers, greeted with celebratory gunfire and paraded to grounds on horseback.[16]
Towards the end of the 20th century, tape ball games were widespread even in slums and on mountains and battlefields, as the previous novelty had long become an entrenched part of Pakistan's sporting culture.[17] In 1999, Tariq Ali wrote that "the gulli-danda days are over" [referring to a previously ubiquitous sport] and Ramzan tape ball cricket tournaments were celebrated annual events.[18] Held during the holy month of ramadan, the informal nature of these tournament games (which could last from 5 to 25 overs) would often be played late into the evenings for short periods of recreation before the commencement of daily fasting and morning prayers.[19][20]
Behaviour of the ball
Any colour of tape can be used and its application means tennis balls face less
Given its history of being introduced to negate finger spinners, the smooth surface of a tape ball (with no seam) naturally offers less turn than a tennis ball or cricket ball. Due to this, spinners are necessitated to expand their range of skills, such as having to bowl faster or to mix googlies and offbreaks throughout their overs.[20] Shahid Afridi is one such bowler who developed a varied repertoire based on playing with a tape ball, as did Rashid Khan who learned the importance of experimentation when devising new variations in his youth.[26]
With the abrasive grounds this type of cricket is commonly played on, the tape is not particularly durable and quickly develops scratches and tears. Furthermore, loose pieces of ripped tape can alter how the ball behaves, such as making it swing appreciably late, making deviation from spinners unpredictable or resulting in even more uneven bounce. In certain cases (depending on the local rules or availability of more rolls of tape), the tape is left to wear naturally. When torn, however, the ball is usually immediately re-taped or replaced with a pre-taped ball as often as required before the specified number of overs are completed.[27] As late swing is relatively easy to achieve, tape balls have occasionally been utilised by professional test cricketers who have incorporated them as part of training drills, such as Yasir Hameed and Mohammad Rizwan.[28][29]
Taking inspiration from these properties, the concept has been adapted in wiffle ball where the perforated, plastic ball is covered in electrical or, rarely, duct tape to make it heavier and thereby act more like a baseball when pitched.[30] As with cricket, this has sometimes been used to ease children from a softer to harder ball.[31]
Impact and legacy
Influence
Tape ball cricket is considered an integral part of
The popularity of tape ball is also credited with Pakistan's famous production of
Despite not being officially recognised by cricket boards, contemporary tape ball tournaments have continued to become increasingly elaborate based on demand from prospective players and audiences. Local tournaments feature extravagant opening ceremonies (consisting of music, dance, fireworks etc.) and receive widespread media and commercial support in Pakistan. With Ramzan cricket alone said to be worth Rs (
In 2020,
Effects on player development
Regarding skill development, tape ball tournaments have featured the
Tape ball is pure entertainment, however it can have an adverse affect on the technique of the batsmen as the challenges posed by a cricket ball are totally different to a taped one, professional cricketers can have the odd indulgence especially during Ramazan, however they should not play this version regularly
—Mohsin Khan, former test cricketer[13]
From a batting perspective, former test captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have stated that tape ball experiences helped them play with a straight bat and improved their hitting ability during their youth.[52][7] Conversely, ex-cricketers including former national coach and selector Mohsin Khan have claimed that this version of cricket can have a detrimental effect on batting technique.[13] Consistently playing tape ball games has been cited as a reason for Pakistan's poor fielding in the past, specifically because playing on rough surfaces has developed an aversion to diving.[53]
Concerns have been voiced about how the increased ease of starting cricket and the pull of local tournament fame wrongly persuade impressionable children to drop out of school and pursue the sport.
Expansion beyond Pakistan
Test nations
Since its inception, tape ball cricket has drawn interest from outsiders due to how the indigenous idea spread so quickly and achieved institutionalisation within Pakistan, as well as its longevity over decades and the impact it has had on the international game.[3][57] In neighbouring Afghanistan, tape ball cricket has perhaps had greatest influence among the other test-playing nations, helping produce players such as Taj Malik, Rashid Khan and Hazratullah Zazai.[58][59] In refugee camps housing Afghans following the Soviet–Afghan War, interest in cricket swelled and tape ball found popularity within the displaced community living in Peshawar and other areas close to the Afghanistan border.[60]
Although the timing of events indicates that the tape ball did not feature much in East Pakistan, the game has been enjoyed in Bangladesh for several years. Tournaments have been organised in multiple localities and have helped the nation consistently identify fast bowling prospects.[61] International cricketers to emerge from the tape ball circuit include Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain and Elias Sunny.[62]
Aside from infrequent street games and occasional tournament appearances, there is comparatively less tape ball played in India and Sri Lanka, where tennis ball cricket tends to be more popular.[57][63] However, the idea has been harnessed in Sri Lankan school cricket competitions to facilitate children's transition towards a harder ball.[64] Previously, former cricketers from the Sri Lankan team including Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana have participated in a yearly tape ball tournament in the Maldives to help promote cricket in the nation.[65]
Away from Asia, the game has been advocated in other test nations where it can be enjoyed by locals and the Pakistani diaspora who have frequently helped establish it. Specifically, the tape ball concept has gained popularity with communities in England, Australia and the West Indies:
In 2005, hoping to capitalise on the enthusiasm created by England's win in the
Since 2010, Australia has hosted an annual Tape Ball Cricket Cup which is based in
In the West Indies, tape ball has been popular for many years, particularly in Barbados where games are played on the streets, as well as in more formal settings.[73] Evening games of tape ball have been organised to raise funds for various charities, with celebrities participating during nights that also include music from live DJs and other entertainment.[74] Bajan fast bowlers Tino Best and Jofra Archer started playing when at school and honed their ability to bowl at extreme pace during these competitions.[75][76] Furthermore, in Antigua and Guyana, interest in tape ball has steadily risen,[77] with different tournaments taking place amongst clubs from the islands.[78][79]
Associate nations
Tape ball cricket has also had a degree of influence on nations that do not typically partake in much competitive cricket, such as in
Although cricket is not as popular as other sports in
Due to historic international ties with Pakistan, it is perhaps unsurprising that the tape ball concept has flourished in the Middle East. In Dubai, many Pakistani and Indian expatriates play together in the mornings to evade the afternoon heat,[90] while in Sharjah workers play multiple tape ball games every Friday.[91] When working as bowling coach for the UAE team, former fast bowler Aaqib Javed stressed the importance of tape ball to improve the pace and quality of the nation's fast bowling resources.[92] Since then, the concept has gathered momentum and the UAE is home to the annual Chinar Super League (CSL) which has occasionally featured cricketers associated with the Pakistan Super League.[93]
See also
- Cricket ball
- Cricket clothing and equipment
- Cricket in Pakistan
- Pakistani cricket team
- Tennis ball cricket
Notes
[a] The term tape ball can refer to the covered tennis ball itself or act as a synecdoche for the type of cricket games played with it. Hence, 'tape ball' and 'tape ball cricket' are frequently used interchangeably, as is the case in this entry.
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