Pink Ball Test Cricket Explained — Day-Night Tests
Everything you need to know about pink ball Test cricket: why the colour was changed, how the ball behaves differently, and the challenges it creates for batters under lights.
Why Was the Pink Ball Introduced?
Red cricket balls are difficult to see under floodlights, making evening sessions dangerous for batters facing fast bowling. The ICC approved the pink ball for Test cricket to allow day-night Tests, broadening the prime-time television audience in countries where weekday day-time cricket draws low ratings. The first official day-night Test was played between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval in November 2015.
How Does the Pink Ball Differ from Red and White?
Pink balls carry an additional lacquer coating to maintain visibility under lights, which affects their behaviour. The lacquer keeps the ball harder for longer, meaning it swings more and seams later into an innings compared to a red ball. The seam also retains prominence longer. Conversely, the pink ball tends to reverse-swing less than a red ball in its latter overs because it does not scuff as easily. White balls used in ODIs and T20Is deteriorate differently again — they are replaced after 25 overs per team in ODIs.
The Challenge for Batters
The twilight period — roughly 30 to 60 minutes before and after sunset — is considered the hardest time to bat in day-night Tests. During this window, the natural light fades but the floodlights have not yet fully compensated, creating a mixed-light environment where the ball is hardest to pick up from the bowler's hand. The pink ball also swings more during this period as atmospheric humidity rises at dusk. Teams winning the toss in day-night Tests often elect to bowl first, forcing the opposition to bat through the twilight period.
Manufacturer Differences
Different Test nations use different ball manufacturers: Australia uses Kookaburra, England uses Dukes, and India uses SG (Sanspareils Greenlands). The pink versions of each behave slightly differently. The Kookaburra pink ball — used in most day-night Tests — tends to swing more consistently throughout an innings. The Dukes pink ball retains its shape and seam longer due to hand-stitching, making it favoured by English conditions. India played their first home day-night Test in 2019 vs Bangladesh using the SG pink ball, which prompted adaptation challenges for both teams.
Notable Day-Night Test Moments
Australia have dominated day-night Tests at home, winning the vast majority of their Adelaide matches. England's day-night Tests at Edgbaston and Emirates Old Trafford showed the pink Dukes can generate extreme swing under lights, sometimes reducing match duration dramatically. Virat Kohli initially resisted hosting day-night Tests in India but eventually agreed in 2019 — the match lasted just under three days, with the twilight sessions producing rapid wicket clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a pink ball used in day-night Tests?
A red ball is almost invisible under floodlights against white-clad fielders and a dark outfield boundary. The pink colour provides the high visibility needed for players, officials, and spectators to track the ball under artificial lighting during evening sessions.
Does the pink ball swing more than the red ball?
Yes, generally. The additional lacquer coating on the pink ball keeps it harder and shinier for more overs, which promotes conventional swing over a longer period. However, it tends to reverse-swing less in its later overs compared to a well-worn red ball.
How many overs is the pink ball used in a Test?
Like red-ball Tests, a single pink ball is used per 80 overs per innings. There is no mid-innings ball change as in ODIs. Each bowling team uses one pink ball per innings.