Cricket Aug 31, 2026

Pink balls will be used in day Tests to maximise playing time in trial introduced by International Cricket Council

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Pink balls will be used in day Tests to maximise playing time in trial introduced by International Cricket Council

Test-playing nations will be able to ‌use pink balls instead of red ones in traditional daytime matches ‌as part of a trial to prevent play being ​lost due to bad light.

The International Cricket Council approved the trial at a ​meeting of its board in ‌Ahmedabad on Monday and said it would also undertake research ​on lighting technology for match officials and venues to "reduce lost play due to poor light".

Bad light ​often halts play in Test ⁠matches for safety reasons, ⁠with the red ball being harder for batters to see.

Pink balls, which ‌are easier to see at floodlit stadiums, have been exclusively used in day-night Tests until ‌now.

As part of the trial, teams would need to agree to the pink ball switch before the start of a match that may be ⁠impacted by poor light.

The ICC board ​also approved a recommendation that will ​allow head coaches or other staff to ​enter the field of play during drinks ⁠breaks to consult with players in one-day and T20 internationals.

Previously, coaches' messages could only be ⁠relayed by players running drinks ​onto the field.

Allowing coaches on the field during ​strategic time-outs has been a feature of T20 franchise leagues.

There have been 25 day-night men's Tests since the first between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide 11 years ago.

Only one has taken place in England, when the hosts beat West Indies at Edgbaston in 2017.

England are considering rejecting a day-night Test for their next Ashes tour in 2029-30, but the 150th anniversary Test between the nations in Melbourne next March will be a day-nighter.

Ben Stokes' side lost by eight wickets to Australia in Brisbane in their last pink ball Test in December.

The ICC Board also approved several other recommendations from the chief executives committee, including:

England squad for first Test against New Zealand: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

Watch the first Test between England and New Zealand, at Lord's, live on Your Site Cricket and Main Event from 10am on Thursday (11am first ball). Not got Sky? or .

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

IPL: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes fastest to reach 1,000 T20 runs as 15-year-old hits 36-ball ton for Rajasthan Royals

IPL: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes fastest to reach 1,000 T20 runs as 15-year-old hits 36-ball ton for Rajasthan Royals

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest player, and the fastest by balls faced, ‌to complete 1,000 runs in T20 cricket as the 15-year-old smashed a 3...

Jude Bellingham invests in Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred: 'I owe the city', says Real Madrid and England star

Jude Bellingham invests in Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred: 'I owe the city', says Real Madrid and England star

Real Madrid and England's Jude Bellingham feels he "owes" the city of Birmingham after he was announced as a new investor in The Hundred's Birmingham...

Jacob Bethell responds to IPL criticism as Sir Alastair Cook calls for England star to consider return to county cricket with Warwickshire

Jacob Bethell responds to IPL criticism as Sir Alastair Cook calls for England star to consider return to county cricket with Warwickshire

Jacob Bethell has responded to criticism about his lack of match time at the Indian Premier League as former England captain Sir Alastair Cook called...

Kevin Pietersen: Sir Alastair Cook has no idea what IPL is like - 'Jacob Bethell should ignore him'

Kevin Pietersen: Sir Alastair Cook has no idea what IPL is like - 'Jacob Bethell should ignore him'

Kevin Pietersen reignited his long-running feud with Sir Alastair Cook over his former England team-mate's criticisms of Jacob Bethell being at the In...

David Warner charged with drink driving in Sydney

David Warner charged with drink driving in Sydney

Australian cricket great David Warner has reportedly been charged with drink driving in Sydney.New South Wales police confirmed that a 39-year-old was...

Sonny Baker: England Test debut would be 'dream come true', says talented Hampshire fast bowler

Sonny Baker: England Test debut would be 'dream come true', says talented Hampshire fast bowler

England pace prospect Sonny Baker says a debut Test cap this summer would be "an absolute dream come true", but the Hampshire fast bowler insists his...