Quarter seam (original) (raw)

The quarter seam is a small join which runs around a cricket ball at 90 degrees to the main seam. Unlike the main seam, the quarter seam has no stitching and is not raised above the surface of the ball. It is produced during the manufacturing process by the boundary between two pieces of leather forming each half of the ball. Some fielding sides have been accused of deliberately interfering with the quarter seam, which would constitute illegal ball tampering.