cloth

This is the verb to cloth as used by cricket commentators.  He’s clothed the ball means that the batter has produced a mistimed lofted shot. Apparently Mark Butcher uses this expression a lot, but he is not alone.  No one is sure of the origin.  One guess is that it comes from some other sport, heaven knows what.  Another is that it comes from the sound that the ball makes on the bat in a mistimed shot.  It makes a dull thud, as if the bat has been wrapped up in cloth.

If anyone has any information to share on this expression, please do!