A tape ball is a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape that is often used in informal games of cricket such as street cricket, also called tape ball cricket. First pioneered in Karachi, Pakistan, the tape ball acts as an improvised cricket ball with the tape stretched tightly over the fuzzy felt-like covering of a tennis ball to ensure a smooth surface that produces greater pace after bouncing. The tape makes the ball heavier than a tennis ball, but not as hard or heavy as a cricket ball. As such, this modification seeks to reduce the risks to players, passers-by and property. Although originated in Pakistan, tape ball cricket is also very popular in South Asia specially in Bangladesh.
Although most street games feature entirely covered varieties, tape balls may also be prepared such that only one side is taped to replicate reverse swing or they may have multiple layers of tape running down the middle to mimic the leather seam found on standard cricket balls.
History The practice of using electrical tape to repurpose the ball originated in Karachi street cricket during the 1960s, quickly spreading from neighbourhoods in Nazimabad and the Federal B. Area. This approach of modifying the ball built on previous unsuccessful attempts implemented by local bowlers, such as constantly wetting shaved tennis balls to make them heavier and more conducive to skidding through quickly after bouncing. Partly introduced to include individuals who were unable to access pitches and protective equipment, the tape ball innovation also countered the prodigious amounts of spin that skilled bowlers could extract when playing with tennis balls. One such exponent was former first-class cricketer Nadeem Moosa, who would squeeze the ball between his middle-finger and thumb before flicking it on release. The glossy surface of a tape ball would make this unorthodox, carrom-like grip difficult and bowlers focusing on speed, rather than turn, would start to find success. For up-and-coming batsmen such as Javed Miandad, who was involved in the early tape ball scene in Gazdarabad, this new way of playing instilled determination and resolve against the quickest bowlers.
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, Netto, which was deemed to have the highest quality of available brands. Any batsman hitting the ball into a house would also immediately be declared out. During this decade, the tape ball trend spread to affluent areas, such as Defence and Clifton and was now enjoyed by lower and upper classes alike. In addition, the 'professional' tape ball player emerged. These were especially talented cricketers who would be hired to play in games for different teams in exchange for a small payment. Wasim Akram became a professional tape ball player in Lahore in 1983, a year before he would begin his test match career.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
Behaviour of the ball Any colour of tape can be used and its application means tennis balls face less air resistance and travel quickly. This allows bowlers to bowl at high speeds while also ensuring batsmen can hit shots that continue over longer distances. On occasions where quick runs are needed, a lighter bat will be used to hit the ball even further by increasing the speed of bat-swing and scores over 20 runs per over or six sixes are not uncommon. As they are both lighter and smaller, tape balls have been estimated to travel 20 per cent faster in the air than cricket balls and this encourages increased arm-speed. Factors such as the style of bowling action, how evenly the tape is applied and which brand of tape is used may vary behaviours slightly and the bounce of the tape ball can often be unpredictable. It has been suggested that the tendency for the ball to deviate as it hits the ground helps develop batting reflexes and encourages unorthodox styles. The tape ball also incentivises bowlers to work harder on their wrist technique due to the greater probability of swing.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. As with cricket, this has sometimes been used to ease children from a softer to harder ball.
Impact and legacy Influence Tape ball cricket is considered an integral part of Pakistani cricket and sports culture, with virtually every cricket-playing youth being exposed to it in one form or another. Its introduction shifted the status of cricket in the country from an elite to a mainstream sport that could even be enjoyed by those living in abject poverty. Aspirational cricketers born into difficult circumstances have since been able to rise from hardship and win selection for the national teams. For instance, Mohammad Yousuf, whose family were not able to afford tennis balls, honed his talent as a child by wrapping a ping-pong ball in tape and using a thaapi as a makeshift bat. In 2005, it was estimated that, of all those who play some kind of organised cricket in Pakistan, 80 percent play with a tape ball, and 20 per cent with a standard cricket ball. The inexpensive alternative has also been praised for its role in mitigating dangers associated with standard cricket balls, particularly head injuries in children that have previously been fatal. Because of how widely it has always been played, this form of cricket continued to provide a steady stream of talented athletes that helped keep Pakistan's domestic cricket afloat when the national side were forced to play away from home for almost a decade, following the 2009 Lahore attack.
The popularity of tape ball is also credited with Pakistan's famous production of fast bowlers and, according to Shaheen Afridi, may provide reasoning for Pakistani bowlers' effectiveness in bowling yorkers, particularly in the death overs of white ball cricket. As there is usually no leg before wicket (lbw) rule in tape ball games, bowlers are rewarded for bowling full and straight to target the stumps (aiming to bowl the opponent). Umar Gul, one of Pakistan's most successful T20 bowlers and yorker exponents, did not transition from tape to cricket ball until he was 16. Similarly, Haris Rauf worked as a professional tape ball player, freelancing for various clubs that required his services of 'hitting the blockhole ball after ball'. Other notable pace bowlers picked based on their tape ball talent include Shoaib Akhtar, who became the fastest bowler of all time and Mohammad Amir, who was scouted during a tape ball tournament when he was 13 years old.
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 (PKR) 100 million, there are numerous opportunities to provide substantial monetary value to participants. In 2015, a 15 night tournament in Karachi offered prize money of Rs 300,000 and additional rewards, such as The Man of the Tournament receiving a motorbike. The best of these professional players often receive additional gifts from adoring fans, employ unique pseudonyms that are emblazoned on their bats and are celebrated in hundreds of YouTube fan videos. Most organised games involve branded team kits, are streamed online and have live commentary provided through pitch-side loud speakers.
In 2020, Wisden named tape ball in their list of the ten greatest cricket inventions. Such has been the impact, that in recent years specialised grounds have been set up for tape ball and ball manufacturers have introduced specialised products designed to act like cricket balls, which have proven to be popular throughout Pakistan. Similarly, in an attempt to remedy the inconvenience of constantly replacing tape, the windball has been used for informal games in England and the West Indies. For batsmen, CA Sports produce 500,000 specialised tape ball bats per year which vary in length, width and weight as compared to regular cricket bats, and are more curved.
Effects on player development