What is Pink-Ball Test? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About It

Prepend to the Content

Read Original Content: What is Pink-Ball Test? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About It

A Pink-Ball Test is a day-night version of Test cricket, played under floodlights. Unlike traditional red-ball matches played during the day, pink-ball Tests start in the afternoon and continue into the evening. The pink ball is specially designed for better visibility under lights, as the red ball is harder to see in low-light conditions.

This format was introduced to make Test cricket more viewer-friendly, allowing fans to watch matches after work hours. The first-ever pink-ball Test was played in November 2015 between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide.

Conditions and Challenges of Pink-Ball Tests

Pink-ball matches are usually played in cooler evening conditions. This affects how the ball behaves. The ball swings more under lights, making it tough for batters, especially during the twilight phase. Fast bowlers enjoy an extra advantage, as the ball tends to zip off the surface and stay shiny for longer.

The pink ball is slightly different from the red ball. It has an extra layer of lacquer, which helps it remain visible and last longer in the evening. However, the same property makes it tougher for spinners, as they get less grip on the ball.

For batters, playing the pink ball can be challenging. The shift from natural daylight to artificial lights creates visibility issues. This makes the twilight phase of play the most difficult time for batting.

India’s Record with the Pink Ball

India’s next pink-ball Test is against Australia in Adelaide, as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The team is confident after a huge win in Perth. However, pink-ball Tests have traditionally been Australia’s stronghold. They have never lost a day-night Test match.

The last time India played a pink-ball Test in Australia, they faced a tough challenge. The team was bowled out for just 36 runs in the second innings, their lowest-ever Test score. With Adelaide’s spicy pitch expected to favor bowlers again, India will need to adapt quickly to the conditions.

Read Original Content: What is Pink-Ball Test? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About It

ProBatsman