I grew up in a rural, fruit-growing area. In High School (final two years, aged 15-17) we played cricket at lunch-time. The batsman would be at the end of a open net "cage." When he missed a ball from a bowler, he'd retrieve it and toss it back to the pack waiting to become the next bowler.
Everyone would jump to try to grab it, like Australian Rules players jumping for a mark. Whoever grabbed the ball kept it, to join the queue of bowlers (there were several cricket balls).
Many kids, particularly from Greek or Italian backgrounds, had to also work very long and hard, picking fruit (particularly grapes) on their parents' orchards ("blocks"). You did NOT want to grab a ball at the same time as they did, because you'd likely get a crushed hand!