The International Cricket Council is considering a rule change that would allow teams to switch from the red ball to the pink ball during weather-interrupted Test matches, enabling play to continue under floodlights. Both teams would need to agree to the switch for it to take effect, according to a Cricbuzz report.
The proposal came up during a virtual meeting of the ICC Chief Executives Committee on Thursday, attended by ICC Cricket Committee chairman Sourav Ganguly. The idea is still at the discussion stage, with several practical questions including how and when the ball change would be implemented mid-match yet to be resolved.
Weather and fading light have long disrupted Test cricket. In parts of India, daylight begins to fade as early as 4 pm during certain months, regularly cutting 30 to 60 minutes off the scheduled close of play. The lost overs affect match outcomes and spectator interest alike.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup India Broadcast Deal Worth $35 Million Likely Soon: Report
The pink ball was introduced specifically for day-night Tests to address this problem, allowing matches to run under floodlights the way ODI and T20 games do with the white ball. Marketed initially as a way to draw working audiences with evening-friendly timings, day-night Tests have seen a dip in popularity in recent years.
Red Ball vs Pink Ball: What Changes
The two balls are built differently for different conditions. Red balls are coated with wax, generating conventional swing early in an innings and developing roughness that produces reverse swing as the match progresses. Their visibility under floodlights, however, is poor.
Pink balls carry additional layers of pigment and lacquer to remain visible under artificial lighting. The heavier coating and more prominent seam make them swing and seam more sharply for longer periods, and they tend to travel quicker off the pitch under lights.