Impact of Rollers in Test Matches

Rollers play a crucial role especially in test matches depending on how the team use them. Eventually, the team that plays better cricket over 5 days wins the test match but still, the role of the rollers play a crucial role if used effectively.

During the early 2000s, mostly heavy rollers were rolled on the pitch which was criticized by the experts claiming that batsmen would find it easier to bat on. Then slowly two different rollers were used simultaneously.

The rollers are of two types- Light and Heavy.

Light Rollers

These are typically used on very soft pitches. Going by the norm softer the pitch more the patches or dents would be present. This would make it difficult for batting as there would be an uneven and variable bounce. Both the spinners and the pace bowlers on varying their pace tend to get more purchase on these pitches due to its dampness.

Heavy rollers


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These are mainly rolled out on harder pitches to flatten the pitch and remove the cracks making it batting friendly. On the other hand the bowlers mostly the pace bowlers can make use of the bounce and make it difficult for the batsmen to negate the bounce. But spinners mostly struggle the most in these pitches. Usually, we tend to see high-scoring matches on these kinds of surfaces. 

Who gets to select the type of rollers to use?

According to the ICC rule book the batting team captain decides on selecting the type of rollers to use on that particular day or innings (barring the first day of the test). 

The Groundsmen roll down the pitch for not more than 7 minutes before the start of the innings or start of day's play.  


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