Pink ball contributes a visual treat to the day-night test matches having higher visibility under the floodlights than traditional red balls. The pink ball test cricket began with the high voltage clash between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval on 27th November 2015 (Friday).
Usually, the day-night test matches are played according to the same rules as the regular test matches. The main difference is that the pink ball test starts at noon and continues till evening by playing the matches under floodlights.
You might doubt why white balls aren’t used in test cricket despite possessing certain similarities with pink balls. This is because the ball made from the main essence of cork is covered with a traditional white leather cover that would easily get mixed with the white jerseys that players often wear in test matches.
The pink and red balls weigh the same ranging between 156 and 162 grams. But there is a huge variation in overall performance which is influenced by the materials used, longevity, coating, dew factor, swing, and bounce, usage, seam and thread color, and variations implemented by manufacturers.
Let’s dive deeper to find out the interesting comparison of Red Ball vs Pink Ball to understand the innovative approach of playing test cricket under the lights.
1. Ball Visibility:
Red balls are suitable for playing matches scheduled from morning to evening before sunset and visibility under artificial lights becomes challenging as the ball tends to wear out faster due to a single layer of wax coating and appears brownish. In contrast, the shining outer layer of the pink ball makes it easier for batters and fielders to identify the ball under floodlights.
2. Swing, and Bounce:
Pink balls continue to maintain huge swing and bounce after 40 overs which is higher than red balls having the capacity upto the initial 15 overs. Moreover, reverse swings can be generated using red balls only after the 40th over.
3. Longevity:
Red balls can last upto 80 overs in a test match, whereas pink balls are highly durable and maintain their shininess for a long time, thereby requiring fewer replacements.
4. Dew Factor:
Considering the dew factor, the toss-winning captain would prefer bowling first. This is because of the additional moisture on the field, which benefits the team’s batting second as bowlers find it difficult to gain control over the ball. In such conditions, pink balls are mostly preferred due to the reason that the seam absorbs excess dew to provide a firm grip for bowlers when compared to the traditional red balls.
5. Coating:
Similar to white cricket balls, the pink balls are developed with cork inside and red leather outside. The main reason for coating an extra layer of PU (polyurethane) in pink balls is to solve the issues faced in tracking the ball under the spotlights as well as provide resistance against corrosion and cracks.
A wax coating is suitable for red balls and cannot be preferred for pink variants as it makes the color darker and difficult to observe after sunset.
6. Stitching and Thread color for Seam:
You might have observed red cricket balls have a thin layer of white thread used for the seam and black thread is used for stitching pink balls.
7. Variations by Manufacturers:
Different manufacturers design cricket balls with various characteristics that include the seam and behavior of the ball.
These are the three popular companies that manufacture balls for international cricket:
- SG (used in India)
- Dukes (used in England and West Indies)
- Kookaburra (used in Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka)
The balls manufactured by the SG and Dukes come completely handstitched consisting of six rows of stitches. In comparison, the Kookaburra balls are handstitched for only two rows with the remaining four rows being machine-stitched.
To explain in simpler terms, the durability, and seam behavior is influenced by the stitching methods. Due to this reason, the seam on Kookaburra balls becomes flat instantly compared to the SG and Dukes. Based on the Kookaburra’s pink ball, the seam is highly flatter than the red ball.
8. Materials Used for Seam:
Unlike the seam of the pink balls that are developed by a combination of linen and synthetic, the red balls are purely fabricated of synthetic. However, the pink cricket balls’ seams are much stronger than the red versions, thereby providing proper grip for bowlers.
9. Usage:
Red balls can be used for international tests and First Class format while Pink balls are suitable for both limited-overs and test cricket.
Final Opinion:
The pink ball has altered the traditional method of playing test cricket, making it possible to conduct the matches under lights provided with enhanced visibility and unique innovations.
However, there have been mixed reviews about pink ball test cricket such that the ball is difficult to track under the lights, especially for the batters due to its increased sideways movement.
As of November 2024, only 22 day-night tests have been played and the usage of pink balls is still under budding stage. Finally, the properties of the pink ball will be revealed clearly in the upcoming test matches.