Understanding The Differences Between Pink And Red Balls In Cricket Matches

India and Australia are competing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval. This match, starting on December 6, uses a pink ball instead of the traditional red one. The change aims to improve visibility under lights, differing from the series opener in Perth where India won by 295 runs using a red ball.

Day-night matches necessitated the use of different coloured balls for better visibility. The dark red ball was hard to see under lights, prompting the introduction of new colours. Initially, white balls were used for limited overs games. Recently, pink balls were introduced for Tests after extensive trials with various colours.

Manufacturers tested several colours like optic yellow and bright orange. Fielders found these easy to spot, but batters struggled with visibility due to pitch patches. The pink ball was chosen as it offers better visibility for everyone involved in the game.

The first official day-night Test using a pink ball occurred in November 2015 between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval. Since then, this format has gained popularity worldwide, with countries like India, England, and West Indies participating in such matches.

What's the difference between Pink, Red and White ball in cricket?

All three cricket balls are made from the same leather but differ in dye colour. The pink ball is treated uniquely with an extra lacquer layer to maintain its shine longer than red balls. This treatment aids pace bowlers by enhancing swing potential during play.

Pace bowlers have excelled in pink ball Tests due to this extra lacquer. Mitchell Starc exemplifies this dominance; he took five wickets against India on December 6 and leads with 44 wickets in day-night Tests.

The introduction of coloured balls aimed to address visibility issues during night games. While white balls became standard for shorter formats, the pink ball emerged as ideal for longer formats after thorough testing of various options.

This innovation has allowed cricket to adapt to modern demands while maintaining competitive integrity across different playing conditions worldwide.