Explained: Heavy vs Light Roller – What’s the Difference and Why It Mattered on Day 5 at The Oval | Cricket News

Ahead of the dramatic Day 5 at The Oval, there was loads of speak round one factor — the use of the heavy curler. With England needing simply 35 runs and India searching 4 wickets to sq. the sequence, the selection of curler took centre stage in the buildup. The perception was {that a} heavy curler may flatten the pitch, scale back motion, and make batting simpler — even when just for a short time. Eventually, none of that mattered. Mohammed Siraj produced a sensational five-wicket haul as India pulled off a shocking six-run win to degree the sequence 2-2 and finish the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy on a excessive. But what precisely is the distinction between a heavy and a light-weight curler?

According to ICC Playing Conditions, the batting facet will get to decide on the kind of curler earlier than the begin of play, and it may be used for as much as seven minutes, no later than 10 minutes earlier than the day’s first ball.

A lightweight curler, often weighing between 500 to 1000 kg, is used to smoothen the floor with out disturbing the pitch’s pure state. It helps make the bounce extra predictable however doesn’t change a lot when it comes to tempo or flip. On the different hand, a heavy curler can weigh over 1500 kg and compresses the pitch extra deeply. It flattens cracks and deadens variable bounce for a short while. This will help batters early in the day — however the impact fades as the session progresses. England did go for the heavy curler on Day 5, however India’s bowlers overcame the odds to seal a well-known win.