Do we want to see ODI cricket "en rose"? Should they use the pink ball?

Question

The ball was used yesterday at Lord's for a "test" ODI match and everyone agreed it was easier to see and the colour held up for the 50 overs.

So if it's easier to see, this will in theory benefit the bowling side in the outfield and the batsmen on the pitch.

In the last 10 years there have been 1290 caught/run out dismissals, compared with 1433 stumped/bowled/LBW.

With a little extrapolation, the pink ball will therefore benefit the batsmen more, and we could see even higher scores. This, and we will be able to see the bal better too - whether on TV or at the ground.

Even the the colour as been criticised as a little "festive" for cricket, could it increase viewer interest?

Answer 1

Not sure about viewers interest but yes the visibility of ball will definitely increase compared to white ball so its good change with respect to spirit of game

Answer 2

Yes they are testing it in domestic competitions and it would be better if the pink color remains till the ned of the match coz the red one almost loses its color once it wears out...it is a good development in cricket...also it will be something new to watch!

@parags and cocoon...i think the pink ball is only going to replace the red cherry and not the kukaboora white ball. Please correct me if i am wrong

Answer 3

KooKee: good one about breast cancer awareness.

Yes, it could be used. The game shall have to evolve. But what is wrong with using yellow/yellow-green balls as in tennis. They are used in tennis tournaments, are perfectly capable of being seen at night, even when the players serve at over 200 kmph, and was originally designed to make the ball visible on TV after colour television was introduced in the 1970s. (Originally balls were white). These could be used in conjunction with glasses worn by the players that accentuates its contrast against the backgrounds. (Many players already use such glasses).

I understand tennis balls do not roll along the ground so much, and night matches are only played indoors and on hard courts but not grass or clay where the balls can get dirty, but it is still an option.

Lastly, I do often wish, for nostalgic reasons, that some ODIs would still be played during the day with a red ball and white clothing. Although this might seem a strange throwback, this practice was still common until the end of 1999, not so long ago. The last ODIs I remember being played with white clothing was India v.s. NZ in the series that Tendulkar and Dravid put on a 331 run 2nd wicket stand.

Answer 4

if it helps cricket then why not

Answer 5

pink?!?

Why pink?

There are so many colours in our world and pink is the chosen one?

I think that's a great idea tho coz when your watching a match live on TV or even if you're in the crowd it's pretty hard to see the ball.

Answer 6

Why Not ?

If it helps make cricket easier for the players and fans, then why not ??.

So what the ball is pink !!. The pink ball has so many more advantages compared to the white ball.

* More visible

* Doesn't scuff up like the white ball

* Can be used to raise awareness for breast cancer.

If the pink ball is proved to be more visible than the standard white ball then i would use it no problems. Supposedly the pink ball behaves in the exact same way as the white ball so there is no problem there.

The people who are saying that the pink ball is a little festive, are the same people who said that T20 would not be a success.

Answer 7

actually it is a good idea to introduce a pink ball, i am kind of against it, i believe it is a challenge for the batsman to see the ball, the game is becoming more and more batsman friendly, and pink ball will make it more, the challenge of seeing the ball properly won't be as great as it is for a white ball, so it will make batting easier, I want to see Cricket as a game for both bowlers and batsmen, i don't want to see it getting more and more tougher for the bowlers, nowadays, if you're an int. bowler, there is really no margin for error, this will worsen it slightly....

Answer 8

It's  fluorescent pink

It will be more visible to batters,fielders,bowlers,spectators,

TV audiences than the white one.

So,everyone benefits

So,it's a good idea to introduce pink balls in ODIs