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What is meant by due Factor?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 14, 2026

We often hear the term “dew factor” when a toss-winning captain in a cricket match explains why he decided to bowl first. Dew is simply the presence of excessive moisture on the field that makes it hard for bowlers to grip the ball and control it. As a result, the team batting second can take advantage.

What is due Factor?

In cricket, the 'dew factor' is not an uncommon phenomenon. But what is this dew factor? The dew factor in cricket is the phenomenon caused due to the excessive moisture present on the cricket field which makes the ball moist and difficult to grip and control.

Is dew good for batting?

Many-a-times, captains choose batting or bowling according to the dew factor or the moisture in the air. If dew is more, there will be less turn (for spinners) and for fast bowlers, the ball is straight. Therefore, the batsman is at an advantage.

How can we reduce dew in cricket ground?

Cut the grass as low as possible as less grass would make the ground less wet. Use of tested non toxic spray in neutralising the initial dew. Once it is sprayed no cutting of grass or roller should be used on the outfield. Use of ropes to drain out dew in between overs.

Why is it easier to bat with dew?

With the ball becoming moist and slippery, it is always difficult to grip and control, directly affecting the bowler's line and length and making it easier for batters. Pitch: The dew also causes change in the nature of the pitch.

42 related questions found

Does dew affect batting or bowling?

Many-a-times, captains choose batting or bowling according to the dew factor or the moisture in the air. If dew is more, there will be less turn (for spinners) and for fast bowlers, the ball is straight. Therefore, the batsman is at an advantage. If there's dew out there, it adds to the moisture in the pitch.

How is dew formed?

Dew forms as temperatures drop and objects cool down. If the object becomes cool enough, the air around the object will also cool. Colder air is less able to hold water vapor than warm air. This forces water vapor in the air around cooling objects to condense.

What is dew Pitch?

When there is dew on the pitch, the wicket becomes slower. However, because the surface gets freshened up by the moisture, there is no widening of cracks on it. As a result, the ball does not bounce much. However, the moisture in the air could aid lateral swing.

What is hard pitch in cricket?

Hard pitches will have a higher bounce and the ball will come onto the bat a lot more quickly. Pitches like this are hard to prepare in the UK so they will rarely be seen. They tend to give an equal chance to bowlers and batsmen. It will feel firm to the touch.

Is it better to bat or bowl first in cricket?

Batting first

If the team is uncertain about the nature of the pitch or simply wants to play safe, they often bat first. If the opposition bowling is strong, batting first is often considered a good option.

What is a dead wicket?

This is the term used to describe a cricket wicket that lacks pace and produces a low bounce of the ball. A 'dead' wicket results from: An inappropriate content of clay within the soil. 28-35% is typically needed to produce good quality wickets in the British Isles.

What is spongy bounce?

The erratic nature of bounce that the pitch offered was on full display right from the fir.

What is flat wicket?

A flat wicket is often termed as a bowler's graveyard. Due to the dryness, the batsmen are able to play on the up here. There is little help for the bowlers whatsoever as the surface is devoid of grass cover and moisture. However, spinners may make a difference here by inviting big shots.

What role does dew play in cricket?

Under the lights, the dew is a boon for batters, frustrating for the fielders, and infuriating for the bowlers. It's a lot of hard work for the ground staff who pull out all stops to remove these tiny specks of water off the grass to make the conditions easier for the players.

What is dew and frost?

Now frost is a covering of ice crystals on the surface produced by the depositing of water vapor to a surface cooler than 0° C (32° F). The deposition occurs when the temperature of the surface falls below the frost point. Similarly, dew forms when the air or surface temperature falls below the dew point temperature.

Is dew condensation or precipitation?

Dew is a type of precipitation where water droplets form on the ground, or on objects near the ground in a process called condensation of moisture. Dew forms during calm, clear nights, when the ground surface and other exposed objects, such as tips of grass or leaves, lose heat by radiation to the sky.

What is frozen dew called?

Frozen dew is called hail stone.

What is a green wicket?

With a 'green' wicket the grass has a more moisture in it, as the pitch heats up during the day moisture rises into the air aiding swing bowling. The ball also seams more off a green pitch. With a green pitch the ball remains in a new condition for longer as the pitch is less abrasive and possibly softer.

What is green pitch?

A green pitch has a higher covering of grass on it so it literally looks more green. This is a better type of pitch for test cricket as it will wear slowly and last much longer over five days. It can help the faster bowlers initially before providing what should be an even contest between bat and ball.

What does grass on the pitch mean?

Proverb. if there's grass on the pitch, play ball. (vulgar, potentially offensive) Once someone has grown pubic hair or started puberty, they are old enough for sexual intercourse.

What is flat pitch?

When a flat pitch comes along, the batsmen get plenty of runs on it, but the bowling fails to keep up and India end up losing the game. Indian bowlers struggle to make an impact on good batting pitches: in 50-overs cricket, they are unable to curb the runs, and in Tests to get 20 wickets to win the match.

What is throw ball in cricket?

In the sport of cricket, throwing, commonly referred to as chucking, is an illegal bowling action which occurs when a bowler straightens the bowling arm when delivering the ball.

Can vice captain toss the coin?

13.4 The toss

The captains shall toss a coin for the choice of innings, on the field of play and in the presence of one or both of the umpires, not earlier than 30 minutes, nor later than 15 minutes before the scheduled or any rescheduled time for the start of play.

Why toss is not shown in cricket?

There is no way the audience would know what is tail and what is head. If they have to show the resulted face of the coin then they need to show both faces of the coin to the audience before the toss. That would be a painful exercise.