<P> British Standard BS 5993 specifies the construction details, dimensions, quality and performance of cricket balls . </P> <P> A cricket ball is made with a core of cork, which is layered with tightly wound string, and covered by a leather case with a slightly raised sewn seam . In a top - quality ball suitable for the highest levels of competition, the covering is constructed of four pieces of leather shaped similar to the peel of a quartered orange, but one hemisphere is rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the other . The "equator" of the ball is stitched with string to form the ball's prominent seam, with six rows of stitches . The remaining two joins between the leather pieces are stitched internally . Lower - quality balls with a two - piece covering are also popular for practice and lower - level competition due to their lower cost . </P> <Table> Cricket ball specifications <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> Weight </Th> <Th> Circumference </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Men, and boys 13 and over </Td> <Td> 5.5 to 5.75 oz (156 to 163 g) </Td> <Td> 8.81 to 9 in (224 to 229 mm) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Women, and girls 13 and over </Td> <Td> 4.94 to 5.31 oz (140 to 151 g) </Td> <Td> 8.25 to 8.88 in (210 to 226 mm) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Children under 13 </Td> <Td> 4.69 to 5.06 oz (133 to 143 g) </Td> <Td> 8.06 to 8.69 in (205 to 221 mm) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Younger children </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> A plastic ball such as a "Kwik cricket ball" is often used </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> Weight </Th> <Th> Circumference </Th> </Tr>

What type of leather is used for cricket balls