Batting for the Pink Ball

The cricket ball is all set to change its colour, starting with the Karnataka Premier League. 

Cricket administrators aren’t the only ones turning pink over on-field developments. The Karnataka Premier League (KPL), a T20 league, is experimenting with pink coloured balls this season.

The move has official sanction, with the International Cricket Council eager to try out the pink ball in domestic day-night matches before considering the replacement of white balls used in international limited-over games.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which is conducting the second edition of Mantri KPL over 16–30 September, has said this is the first time pink balls are being used in an official match in India. They were earlier experimented with in England, and during the last IPL season, Mumbai Indians had swatted them around during practice sessions. Brijesh Patel, Honorary Secretary of the KSCA, says Duke balls have been imported from the UK for the league.  

The coloured ball is being tested because the white ball discolours quickly and is difficult to sight under lights. The traditional red ball was discarded in favour of the white when one-day matches caught on. 

The KSCA’s assessment of the ball’s performance will be keenly awaited since it has never been used in a full tournament under lights. Also, the balls will be tested in the unique conditions of South Asia, where the white ball turns brown quickly.

“It is a step in the right direction. We have to make changes that will make the game more comfortable for players,” says cricket commentator Charu Sharma. “Trials have shown that the effects of wear-and-tear are much slower on the pink ball.’’

This may then provide an option of playing Test cricket on a day-night basis and revive dwindling interest in this version of the game. “It is certainly the ball of  the future,’’ says Roger Binny, former India bowler, with confidence.

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Anil Budur Lulla