BCCI to take call on future pink-ball Tests in India after player complaints : Reports

The world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad was all geared up for the second-ever Pink Ball Test in India but as it turned out, the Test – the third of the series – ended up within two days. None of the teams managed to get past 150 in any of their innings, while the spinners made merry on a pitch that suited their kind of bowling.

The surprising result meant that it would receive criticisms from all around the cricket fraternity, with few former England cricketers getting into the act. Apparently, many Indian players also complained regarding the nature of the pink-ball, which has put BCCI in doubt on whether to host similar ties in the future or not.

“What the players say is important. We will take a call soon on whether we should host pink-ball Tests in the future,” stated a BCCI official to the Indian Express. 

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“The problem when facing the pink ball is that it skids much faster compared to the red ball. Muscle memory makes batsmen believe that the ball will come at a particular speed after pitching like they are used to when playing with the red ball. But the pink ball comes much faster. This is a major issue. Also, our players are not keen to play Day-Night Tests because the pink-ball has too many variables, including difficulty in sighting the ball,” he added.

The pink ball game would’ve lasted four days with the red-ball in Motera

The second Test at the Chepauk, in Chennai witnessed something similar, with the rank turner providing vital assistance to the spinners. In fact, one of the Indian players admitted that the Motera pitch was somewhat similar to the Chpeauk one, while he felt that the match could have ended in four days in Ahmedabad if the red-ball was used.

“The pitch was as good as the Chennai track (for the first two Tests). If we had played with the red ball here, the game would have lasted four days,” said the Indian player.