Day- night Tests deliver goods
AUSTRALIAN spearhead Mitchell Starc has a love- hate relationship with the pink ball, but it delivers the prime- time intrigue and happy endings broadcasters love.
The five day- night Tests played in Australia and Dubai have all been close affairs where the pink cherry has predominantly prevailed against the willow.
The task won’t get any easier for batsmen in the inaugural Ashes Test under lights.
Former Test batsman Callum Ferguson believes the pink Kookaburra ball for summer 2017- 18 has a noticeably pronounced seam.
“We certainly thought the seam had a bit more about it. That is not a bad thing,” said Ferguson, among the victims in Starc’s first- class career- best 8- 73 for New South Wales against South Australia this month in Adelaide.
Kookaburra maintains the pink ball seam which was changed from green to black last summer is largely the same this season but confirmed an enhanced thread.
“The only slight difference is a marginally stronger seam thread from last summer,” Kookaburra’s Shannon Gill said.
“It won’t make a difference to the way the ball plays, just something that will help durability.”
Australia has won its day- night Tests against New Zealand, South Africa in Adelaide and Pakistan at the Gabba by three wickets, seven wickets and 39 runs.
The only pink- ball blow- out came last August at Edgbaston where England crushed the West Indies by an innings and 209 runs.
England paceman Chris Woakes struggled to gain any swing with the traditional red Kookaburra ball in Brisbane but moved the pink variety at will in the tour match against the Cricket Australia XI this month at Adelaide Oval.
“The ball was OK, it is always exciting and always seems to bring up good games of cricket. If you get a new batsman in it can be a bit tricky,” Woakes said.
Australian new ball pair Josh Hazlewood ( 18) and Starc ( 16) are leading wicket- takers in day- night Tests but spin is equally effective.
Starc maintained his criticism of the pink ball after his exploits in Adelaide, complaining of leather pulling away from the seam and the ball going soft.
Gill notes the pink ball is a work in progress but gaining acceptance.