Pink ball not exactly every Oz cricketer’s cup of tea
By ANIWednesday, February 3, 2010
BRISBANE - After a mixed review by Australian players, the plan to introduce pink balls to facilitate day night Test matches is likely go back to the drawing board.
On Tuesday, Cricket Australia stepped up its push to stage day-night Tests by commencing a trial of pink balls made by English manufacturer Dukes in Futures League matches in Brisbane.
The trial was part of a nationwide experiment to test pink and white balls made by Dukes and Australian manufacturer Kookaburra in the hope of finding one suited to night Test matches.
While the pink ball seemed more spectator-friendly, players from both sides expressed reservations about how the balls aged.
“I reckon it is easier to see than the red ball but it gets scuffed up easier and that is the problem,” said NSW batman Ahillen Beadle.
“You can see the grey parts where it has hit the concrete wall. Little things like that need to be fixed up so it can get through 80 overs rather than 50,” he added.
Bowlers found they could not shine the ball late in the innings, lessening their chances of making it swing.
“When the pink ball hits the wicket the paint comes off it. The pink is not dyed into the ball like it is with the red balls so the paint just wears,” Queensland fast bowler Alister McDermott said. (ANI)
