‘Pink Ball’ For First Day-Night Test Match Of India

Social media was on the roll recently over the “Why Pink ball?” questions regarding the D/N test match played between India vs Bangladesh at Eden garden venue on Friday. This was the first Day and Night test of India.

Previously, all the test matches that India has played were with the red ball but it’s for the first time India will play its long format Day and Night test match with a pink ball against Bangladesh. However, India was leading Bangladesh with a score of 1-0 played in Indore.

But why only pink balls In D/N test matches?

Pink balls are used in test matches because of its better visibility in the artificial lights of the stadium once the natural light fades away whereas under the yellow stadium lights the red/marooned color balls gets faded away or becomes merged in the reflection of light making it difficult for the players on the field especially the batsman to spot it.

Talking about the ball used for the Day-Night test match, it was manufactured by SG in Meerut and come with a circumference of 22.5 cm and is made with imported leather. The ball weighs 156 grams and takes nearly eight days to manufacture as compared to two days for red ball.

The first Test with the pink ball was played between Australia and New Zealand back in 2015 at Adelaide Oval in which Australia won the match by 4 wickets.