Day-night Test plans on track: James Sutherland

A view of the new day/night pink ball and the traditional white ball

While the fans and administrators continue to monitor the progress of the pink ball experiment in day-night matches, the recently held Bupa Sheffield Shield tournament could have just taken the dream of playing day-night Tests one step closer to reality. Cricket Australia remains optimistic, despite the concerns over lastingness and efficieny of the ball during the testing period, that the first ever day-night Test match will go on as planned tentatively by November next year.

The day-night encounter will be a part of the 3-Test match series Down Under, where the Kiwis will take on the Australians in either Brisbane, Adelaide or Hobart.

The traditionally used red balls produce ‘flares’ under lights, which in other words are light trails behind the ball, and are considered unfit under artificial lighting. Pink balls were introduced to remove this stumbling block, but it has raised a whole new set of issues that administrators have to look into closely before implementing it at the international level.

The pink balls undergo a greater level of deterioration on its outer surface, and it might not be able to last its normal shape for the 80 overs, which is technically the number of overs before a new ball is allowed in Test cricket. Bowlers have complained about the ball not swinging as much as the kookaburra ball after the initial 8 overs, and the presence of reverse swing as the ball gets older has been pointed out to be negligible.

A survey comprising of all the players, match officials and administrators involved with the Bupa Sheffield was done and about 450 opinions were reviewed on the merits and demerits of the pink ball.

“We’re in the process of evaluating the feedback we’ve had from all different stakeholder groups, and I’ve got to say that, on balance, the feedback has been very positive,” James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia CEO, told cricket.com.au.

“As we always knew, we would learn a little bit more about the ball and how it responds in various conditions – not just from day to night but also how the pink ball responded in varying conditions – pitches that had more grass on them, pitches that had less grass on them and so on.

“All of those things were a really good learning experience that we need to put together and take back to ball manufacturers.

“But I don’t see any reason from here why we wouldn’t be continuing to go onwards and upwards with our trials with a view to playing some Test cricket at night.”

Most players were happy with what the pink ball had to offer, but some have voiced the need for dark coloured stitching on the seam, like in limited overs internationals.

Even though a section of fans are not comfortable with tinkering around something that hasn’t been broken, yet, Sutherland believes that the day-night Test matches are the way to go.

“I don’t think anyone is any doubt about the commercial appeal of day-night Test cricket, and that fan and spectator access would be clearly improved,” Sutherland said.

“And we shouldn’t discuss the playing day-night Test cricket without reminding people we’re not talking about playing the Boxing Day Test at night.

“It’s about at certain times of the year – particularly at times of year when typically adults are at work and kids are at school.

“The summer holiday period in Australia lends itself to Test cricket, but at other times of the year it can be very difficult to engage with and attend or watch Test cricket, be it here or in other parts of the world.

“And that’s really at the heart of the issue, and the challenge is to try to provide more opportunities for people to engage with Test cricket in their spare time.”