Future is pink as media see new ball appeal
The first ever pink ball Test in Adelaide was warmly received by Australian commentators yesterday, with several likening the day-night match to playing under darkened English skies.
The first game of its kind in cricket’s 138-year history, the opening day of the Australia v New Zealand clash on Friday drew some 47,441 fans — the biggest crowd at the Adelaide Test since the famous 1932-33 Bodyline series.
“The whole thing looked pretty much like Test cricket,” wrote Richard Hinds in The Daily Telegraph after the first day saw New Zealand win the toss and bat, only to be all out for 202. Australia were 54 for 2 at close.
“Played with a pink ball. Under lights. At Trent Bridge.
“The visibility was different. The beaten batsman might say worse. But the conditions were not completely unfamiliar or particularly unfair.”
Writing in The Australian newspaper, Peter Lalor said at times Australian opener David Warner might have felt like he was back playing the Ashes in England.
“When the Australian innings began in the last session Trent Boult and Tim Southee made it swing like it was a dark day in England,” he said.
Players have enthused about the excitement for the day-night match which administrators see as a way of reinvigorating the traditional fiveday game.
But there were concerns about the visibility of the pink ball, particularly just before sunset.
“As the sun is going down, and coming through the stands, it’s definitely the hardest part,” Boult told reporters late on Friday. “Visually at night, I reckon it [pink ball] stands out like a sore thumb.
“It’s just that little hour window where it’s quite difficult.
“It definitely swung around a little bit there with the new ball and from what everyone is saying, it’s a different game under lights.”