The pink ball, as it stands, is a failure, and the experiment must be called off. It is that simple. The playing of a day-night Test always looked like it was rushed at the insistence of Channel Nine,and now it looks set to backfire on Cricket Australia in a bad way.
The latest version of the pink ball has again been shown not to be up to match standards.
Adam Voges is reported as saying the ball was “more green than pink” as it got older, after the Prime Minister’s XI game in Canberra. And that was in less than 50 overs with conditions a little less abrasive than Adelaide is likely to produce.
Other versions of the pink ball have been similarly unsuccessful.
When interviewed by Channel Nine or with a Cricket Australia representative watching on, players haven’t spoken out against the pink ball. When given more freedom to talk, however, the ball has almost universally received criticism.
This year’s ball is yet another poor attempt, and no better than the others. And this has not just been an Australian issue. Day-night first-class games were met with near universal condemnation when trialled in South Africa a few years ago.
Put simply, as things stand the painted and lacquered balls – white, pink or other colours – do not keep their colour. Only the dyed ball, the red ball, does so to any suitable degree. Kookaburra, and other manufacturers, may need to look at other options. Unfortunately, I’m not sure of options there are, but there must be some.
There have been numerous issues raised by other players in the past. From Chris Rogers’ colour blindness to possible Test selections such as Mitchell Starc saying the ball could be dangerous. The New Zealand players were very reluctant to agree to play the Test under lights. They eventually relented after New Zealand Cricket had reluctantly agreed.
If Cricket Australia put it to New Zealand Cricket, there is no doubt they would agree to play the Test as a day game.
Even once a ball is manufactured which retains its colour playing at night, it must never become a pre-condition. Some cities are simply not conducive to playing cricket at night, due to local climate. That can be overlooked for the short forms, but for the premium form of the game having fair conditions to play in must be paramount.
Once a ball is found it needs to undergo a proper trial, over many games in different conditions, before being introduced at the highest level. I would start with non-competitive games, meaning the PM’s XI was a good place. National ‘A’ games may be another.
Once a ball is found that works, then schedule some Sheffield Shield matches. Only when the ball has been proven at that level should a day-night Test be considered. And only when the same type of ball has been shown to hold up in a variety of circumstances.
Cricket Australia has gone the wrong way around, scheduling the matches and then hoping a ball be produced. It hasn’t. And Cricket Australia knew Kookaburra had gone back and were using yet another unproven version of the pink ball. It’s time to cut their losses and make the Test a day game.
Day-night Test cricket may well have a future, but it should not be in the present.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Except the white ball barely lasts 30 overs either. The painted and lacquer balls are, at this point of the technology, simply not up to it. And for whatever reason (or so the experts say) leather won't dye in any of the lighter colours.
Don Freo
Guest
If we are departing from tradition with day/night and pink balls why not also depart from the tradition that has the least impact on the game? Get rid of the white clothes and it is problem over. Coloured clothing, white ball(s).
Jeremy
Guest
I would say use the red ball during the day and the pink ball at night.
The Bush
Roar Guru
It's interesting that after thirty years of white ball cricket, they still haven't fixed the white ball up. Yet they think they can suddenly produce a pink ball? Putting aside the simple oddness of test cricket being played at night, if the ball won't behave the same way as a red ball, then it'll be a failure, irrespective of all the other factors being discussed. The whole thing is rushed. Until the ball is near enough to the same quality as the red, it shouldn't be held.
Rory O'Connor
Roar Rookie
I'm with you, Timmuh. I'm a traditionalist, so I really hate this change for what can only be described as a cash-grab. That being said, I'm going to go into it with an open mind. My biggest concern is this: What happens when players struggle to pick up the ball during the night session on the second day of the test? Is the game then abandoned, or do they get a new ball, and advantage the bowling side. I think there are too many doubts and too many unanswered questions to fully commit to this decision logically. Even if it does work, I don't actually think it will aid any resurgence of test cricket, which is a real shame.
13th Man
Guest
Yep 100% agree. This D/N test is going to be a complete farce, Voges just the latest of a long line of people critisizing the pink ball, obviously there are massive issues with it. I would hope that it becomes just a normal day test but i don't like the chances.
13th Man
Guest
Agree, for the perth test for example, you could move the start time back by an hour, in which case it is finishing at 7:30 in the West and 10:30 in the East, perfect for Prime Time television anyway. I live in Perth and in the middle of summer it is still perfectly light to be playing test cricket at 7:30 pm There you go CA, a day-night test, without needing a pink ball.
barryoh
Guest
Really interesting. Amazing they haven't sorted it out. I get as an ex cricketer the nuances of the fifth day pitch are brilliant, but I've always wondered why tests haven't considered one innings a piece.
JoM
Roar Rookie
You can't do that with them wearing creams/whites. Nobody will be able to pick it up.
Simoc
Guest
Players will always complain at change. Especially old timers like Voges who is on borrowed time. Its a good chance to switch to younger players. Test cricket is dying, pretty much dead in most parts of the world. This is an attempt at revival. Trials have been going on for 8 years now. Pretty much the arguments are identical to those at the advent of the white ball, batting at dusk, at night etc. If you win its great. When you get thrashed, as Voges was, it's a disaster. Grumpy old men.
glen
Guest
Use a red ball in the day and white ball in the night.
AJM
Guest
I tend to agree. While I'm really looking forward to the day/night test not least because the timing of it will mean I can watch pretty much the whole test, I do have my reservations. It does seem rushed and with the limited trials they have done there have hardly been glowing reports coming back from the players. I just hope that we don't see either 8 wickets fall during the night session or runs piled on at 10 an over because it won't swing and the fielders can see it. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
davros
Guest
I witnessed the pink ball experiment last season at Adelaide oval live when redbacks played nsw . I remember starc bowling at dusk and it was very hard to see the ball from the spectators area and I remember remarking to my partner ...its like it has a green halo around it ...I thought it quite bizarre ..now after voges comments I know where he gets the green thing . I think the whole thing is a rushed disgrace ...im filthy on the people running cricket in this country , absolutely filthy ! So many credible people like ponting starc hazelwood etc etc etc ...have come out against it ! None of the players want a bar of it !!! What happens when some poor bowler gets drilled between the eyes ...not being able to see the ball ? Weve already seen how easily a tradgedy can occurr! No worries for these stooges with channel 9 calling the tune ! What an absolute disgrace they are ..the vandals aren't at the gates ...they are in the boardroom !!! Test cricket is the real deal most sacred form of cricket ideally a even contest between bat n ball..so much tradition and history ...and these goons running cricket aus today are just hell bent on destroying it ...for a fist full of filthy lucre ! Im filthy what this management has allowed the one day cup to become ...fans from 5 states denied the right to watch their teams live play on proper cricket ovals ! Im just watching some of the best international cricketers in the world playing in the final on a park oval with a highway for a pitch !!! Whats wrong with the scg ffsake ...I am just filth on the garbage running/ruining our game !!!
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
The author gave a rather detailed argument on how to give the pink ball a fair go.
James T
Guest
Is day/night needed? If played in January instead of November play could be extended to possibly 7.30. With differing time zones for 3 venues this becomes 8.30 or later
jamesb
Guest
Instead of day/ night test cricket, why don't administrators from CA, take advantage of the natural light. In cities like Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart, you could play up until 8pm or 8:30pm.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Since I wrote the above, AAP have also been reporting that DRS is not yet shown to work with the pink ball. http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/10/25/drs-will-work-with-pink-ball-nine-network/ Of course, Nine are saying it will; but the game is only day/night due to Nine.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
I'm really looking forward to this.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
By its very nature test cricket is only a day game. Play the tip and run versions at night if you must, but test cricket is a very different beast.
matthew_gently
Guest
I agree with some aspects of the article, but I can't realistically see the game/experiment being scrapped. I'm intrigued to see whether it'll be 5 days and 3000 runs, or a two-evening bowl-off; I can't be alone in that opinion, and it makes a win-win for CA and Channel 9, even if the match ends up being a one-of-a-kind. It is interesting to read the players' repeated criticisms of the the pink ball, but then have the administrators just push ahead regardless.