What is a Pink Ball Test and Why is the Pink Ball Used?
The five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy is being played between India and Australia. India has taken a 1-0 lead in the series by winning the Test match at Perth. The second Test match will be played in Adelaide, and it will be a day-night match where the pink ball will be used instead of the red one. But why is the pink ball used in day-night Test matches today? There is an interesting science behind this. Let’s understand why the pink ball is considered best for day-night Test matches and its benefits.
History and Science Behind the Pink Ball:
Day-night Test matches began around 10 years ago. After several trials, the pink ball was chosen for these matches. Earlier, orange and yellow balls were also considered, but trials showed that pink balls were easier to see in the evening and night. The red ball, particularly, was difficult for fielders to spot, especially when trying to take high catches under the dark night sky. Therefore, the pink ball was chosen. Since then, several Tests with the pink ball have been played, and the challenge for batsmen remains significant. India played their first pink-ball day-night Test against Bangladesh on 22 November 2019 and won.
Use of Science in Cricket:
Science plays an important role in sports, including cricket. For example, players wear colored clothes in ODIs and T20s, and play with a white ball so that it is clearly visible. Similarly, in Test matches, players wear white clothes and use red balls, which are easier to see in natural daylight. Additionally, wearing white clothes helps players avoid absorbing too much heat from the sun.
How is the Pink Ball Different from the Red Ball?
The next question is why the pink ball is considered more challenging for batting. Experienced batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who has played in three pink-ball Tests for India, explained this in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo. The pink ball has several additional layers of paint, known as lacquer. This means it has more lacquer than the red ball, so its color does not fade quickly while in play. This is beneficial for bowlers, as the ball tends to slip more whenever it hits the seam or its shiny part hits the pitch. As a result, the batsman’s reaction time is shorter compared to the red ball. So, the challenge remains longer as the color doesn’t fade quickly.
Difficult to See Despite Brightness:
The challenge doesn’t end there. Despite all the extra paint and shine, the pink ball is still hard to see at times. Pujara explained that a match starting during the day but continuing into the night faces a challenge when the sun sets. This time is known as “Twilight” in English or “Gaudhuli” in Hindi. During this period, the light is dim, and stadium lights are not yet fully on. The ball becomes harder to see. This is considered the toughest phase in a pink-ball Test, as the ball swings more, resulting in more wickets being taken during this period.
