England cricket ball manufacturer Dukes claims to have a pink ball good enough to be used in all conditions that would solve Test cricket’s archaic practice of bad light stopping play.
Dukes managing director Dilip Jajodia said there would be no need for scenes like in last month’s Sydney Test, where little play was possible on some days despite a full bank of light towers in operation.
The Sydney Test against South Africa last month was ruined by bad light and rain.Credit:Getty Images
“I have a pink ball that is superior to anything else on the market, which will last 80 overs,” Jajodia told the Herald and The Age.
Jajodia is flying to Australia on Friday to meet Cricket Australia and a number of state and local cricket bodies in what has become an annual sojourn to promote the Dukes ball.
“There is always the question of tradition, we must have a red ball for red-ball cricket, we can’t have anything else,” he said.
“You’re in the entertainment industry. There are a lot of people who are paying a lot of money and they’re getting shortchanged.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t move on to pink balls for red-ball cricket all the time. It doesn’t have to be day-night, it can be during the day, there’s no problem.”
Australia’s cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra were contacted multiple times for comment but did not respond.
Steve Waugh and Todd Greenberg. Credit:Louise Kennerley, James Brickwood
Steve Waugh highlighted the widespread criticism around the lack of play on day one because of bad light after the first day of the Third Test against South Africa at the SCG.
“Test cricket needs to realise there is a lot of competition out there and not using the lights when the players are off for bad light simply doesn’t add up,” the former Australia captain said on Instagram. “Lots of unhappy spectators who can’t understand the rationale and reason for no play. #commonsense #movewiththetimes @icc @cricketaustralia.”
During the Test, Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Todd Greenberg said Australia’s players are willing to invest in the development of a new and improved ball that will allow Test cricket to continue during bad light.
He reiterated the ACA’s stance this week.
“We remain of the view that the game must find new and innovative ways to ensure players remain on the field, albeit safely and ensuring the contest between bat and ball can be protected,” Greenberg said.
“But we are in the entertainment business and as such we must play and entertain as best we possibly can.”
Cricket Australia head of cricket operations and scheduling Peter Roach.Credit:The Age
During the Sydney Test, Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd said it should become a day-night match or, at the very least, be played with a pink ball to avoid fans being robbed of play through bad light.
Cricket Australia responded by opposing a day-night Test in Sydney because it would interrupt the Big Bash schedule, but chief executive Nick Hockley described playing the Test with a pink ball, which would coincide with the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Test, as an “interesting idea”.
This week Cricket Australia’s head of cricket operations and scheduling, Peter Roach, suggested there was little prospect of a short-term solution to bad light stopping play.
The latest Dukes pink ballCredit:Dukes
He said there had to be a balance between entertainment and the safety of players, which was paramount when they couldn’t see a red ball in dark conditions.
Roach claimed the current Kookaburra pink ball used for the Adelaide day/night Test could not be used in Sydney because it would discolour on the abrasive clay pitch. Since Adelaide day-night Tests began in Adelaide during 2015, a thin cushion of grass has been left on the drop-in wicket to protect the ball.
“There’s no doubt that ball manufacturers can produce a ball that doesn’t deteriorate,” Roach said. “You can produce lacquer on a ball that actually doesn’t wear off. But that’s again changing the game to a position where we don’t think we want Test cricket to go.
“If the lacquer doesn’t come off the ball teams will just play four quicks and spinners will die out of the game and the beauty of seeing spin bowling and seeing batters face spin may disappear.
“Now that to us is not a solution that we want. It’s finding that balance between giving swing bowlers up front a chance and giving the quicks throughout the match a chance, but also making sure there’s a period of the game where the ball deteriorates so that we can see spinners thrive.
“There’s not a simple solution [to bad light stopping play].”
Roach said umpires need to ensure there is as much play as possible and claimed Cricket Australia will keep pushing manufacturers to improve the pink and red ball.
“We think that the Australian public love day Test matches as well. I don’t think the public of Australia want all Test matches to be day-night either,” he said.
