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[senthilpeter]

I think its aussie/brit slang for fast bolwer deliveries that bounce more than you expect. Am I right?

I heard this term being used to describe Munaf's bowling on a couple of different occasions. Waugh, a few years ago, faced him in the nets and said the lad was notable cos he bowled the 'heavy ball'. More recently, Atherton had the same to say.

[kban1]

Senthilpeter:

I think you are spot on.

Its because of the kick that the ball generates that it is likely to hit the higher portion of the bat including the splice, which in turn means less impact absorption by the bat and more absorption by the batsman's hands -- the heavy feel on the hands at impact and hence the term "a heavy ball".

[k-slice]

Kban,
well you have it almost there!
a heavy ball need not bounce and hit the splice.
a heave ball is basically a ball that is punched into the ground form a high arm bowler. it could be at length but rushes onto the batter at whatever height.heavy balls are usually the ones that are driven easily but one cannot loft them as easily. the other ball is not really a light ball but rather one that skids onto the batsman. usually happens on greener wickets.

[senthilpeter]

very interesting. thanks for the responses kban/kslice.

I think u guys are saying slightly different things here. Am confused. KS, if a ball is punched into the ground, its usually hard to drive it, I would think. no?

[k-slice]

sentil
a punched in ball, or a heavy ball will not bounce as much, thus making it easier on the drive. think of bowlers like gladstone small Vs a bowler like ambrose. ambrose seldom punched the ball in. another great bowler of the heavy ball was iqbal siddiqui. faced him in the nets a bunch of times and usually ended up getting vibrations from the toe of the bat from trying to drive him.

[senthilpeter]

KS, you seemed to have played cricket at a level well beyond me.. so you probably know what you are talking about. Still, if its easier to drive a heavy ball, I wonder why Waugh meant it as something to indicate that its tougher to play such bowlers/balls? hence, my leaning towards the bounce explanation of Kban's...

anyway, i did a google and found this:

from NakedTranslations.com
Heavy ball When a delivery is quicker than it looks and hits the bat harder or higher than is expected
from channel4.com
Heavy ball - a delivery from a medium-paced bowler that is quicker than it looks, the ball hits the bat harder or higher than you'd expect.
from cricinfo.com
Heavy ball - When a delivery is quicker than it looks and hits the bat harder or higher than is expected

a report on McGrath from the Hindu -- http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2801/stories/20050101006500800.htm
"The man with the moniker Pigeon is not quick, but does send down a `heavy ball,' with the sphere, laced with vertical elevation, gaining momentum off the pitch, and striking the willow or the glove hard. His ability to hit the deck is a factor here."

[k-slice]

senthil
hahahahah
dude i did not play cricket at too high a level. had the privelege of practicing with the maharashtra team on a bunch of occasions as they practiced on my home ground of the club i played for.

[achutank]

heavy dude

[senthilpeter]

gotcha. facing iqbal siddiqui aint bad 
i'd run away from anything more than gentle medium pace bowled at Raju's flighted pace.

[k-slice]

achutank,
dude you rock dude. i would have asked you to come surfing but i guess you are too old for that.

[achutank]

i would love to surf. being in mumbai and on an island, we dont even go to see the sea once a week. its ashame that we live from the sea and there is areallly no water sports culture here. i had been sailing once thanks to a friend who could take me as guest in this posh club in mumbai, oh i loved it. it was exhilrating. in fact its only recently that  i picked up swimming. hopefully one day i will take up on your offer.   

[k-slice]

achutank,
if you ever go down to kerala they can actually teach you how to surf. since the waves arent killer by any stretch of imagination you will find it really easy to learn. also if you like or ar einterested in water sports, have you ever gone rafting on mother ganges? it is mad fun.

[k-slice]

senthil
i am sorry. a heavy ball is usually the one testicle that hangs lower than the other in your scrotum.
hope that clarifies things

[keep-it-cool]

senthil
i am sorry. a heavy ball is usually the one testicle that hangs lower than the other in your scrotum.
hope that clarifies things

LOL .. well steve waugh and micheal atherton clearly had some special "insight" when they commented about Munaf's heavy ball!!!

[k-slice]

i think they were caught peeping into the loo while munaf was taking a leak during lunch. thats how they know which of munafs many balls is heavy and which one swings both ways!

[keep-it-cool]

hmmm .. that's what they call investigative journalism ... wonder if they had a hidden camera somewhere ... can be passed on to the English team for some video analysis

[achutank]

achutank,
if you ever go down to kerala they can actually teach you how to surf. since the waves arent killer by any stretch of imagination you will find it really easy to learn. also if you like or ar einterested in water sports, have you ever gone rafting on mother ganges? it is mad fun.

yes i have down to rishikesh. but once only unfortuantely

[k-slice]

if you arent doing anything in 2 weeks time, my friends and i are planning on taking a train ride up, then a bus/jeep ride to gagotri and then rafting down to rishikesh.
you ar emore than welcome to join. there are 9 of us, 3 good friends and then ther est are just friends friends etc. i have my own bowe 12 person raft and a licsence to run down that river. should be fun. total time is 5 days including travel. we wil camp out at nights on the banks.

[achutank]

 

[Nima]

k-slice

Talking about Rishikesh and white water rafting read the attached article - apparently Brad Pittt is in India doing what you are talking about!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1452145.cms

[tombaan]

achutank,
if you ever go down to kerala they can actually teach you how to surf. since the waves arent killer by any stretch of imagination you will find it really easy to learn. also if you like or ar einterested in water sports, have you ever gone rafting on mother ganges? it is mad fun.

i have done river rafting down the colarado river it is a 6 day trip where you camp near the river at night.....it was an experience worth doing
 

[natty]

if you arent doing anything in 2 weeks time, my friends and i are planning on taking a train ride up, then a bus/jeep ride to gagotri and then rafting down to rishikesh.
you ar emore than welcome to join. there are 9 of us, 3 good friends and then ther est are just friends friends etc. i have my own bowe 12 person raft and a licsence to run down that river. should be fun. total time is 5 days including travel. we wil camp out at nights on the banks.

sounds like a fun trip.. theres a small temple enroute to gangotri that has a pool with boiling spring water (lasted about 1 minute in that)