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Why is India having second thoughts about pink-ball Test?

Even the solitary Test experiment in Australia last year had run into several problems as reflected in a player survey.

What are the likely problems with the pink ball?

Even the solitary Test experiment in Australia last year had run into several problems as reflected in a player survey. 70 per cent of players said ball was not easy to see when batting or fielding at dusk. 2) 80 per cent felt the pink ball swung more than the red, especially at night. 3) 80 per cent thought that the pink ball wore out a lot more than the red. 4) 85 per cent believed the day-and-night conditions affected the length of the game.

Will those problems occur in Indian conditions?

We don’t know. Most likely, they will, but that’s why the Indian board is interested in first seeing how the pink ball holds up in the Duleep Trophy. All the top players will be playing in Duleep, and they will give feedback to the board. Only then, will a decision on the pink-ball Test can be taken.

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Does the pitch need to be doctored to preserve the ball?

Yes, if you go by what happened in Adelaide, and in experiments in domestic cricket in Australia, and in Pakistan. Before that Adelaide Test, the two captains Steve Smith and Brendon McCullum were consulted, and their permission sought, to maintain a generous grass covering on the pitch, and the immediate areas surrounding it, to preserve the ball and delay it’s wearing out process. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough had left 11mm of grass At the end of the game, Smith and the coach of New Zealand Hesson said more grass was left than what they had anticipated, and suggested it also played a part in the game getting over within three days.

How will that play out in India?

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It’s tricky. Will Indian team risk playing one Test in a three-match series on greentrack, and risk losing the match? That’s why Duleep Trophy becomes that much more vital. It will be checked whether the pitch helps turn or whether it would nullify India’s spin attack.

What about Pakistan’s experiment with the pink ball?

It’s not that the pitches are alike in both countries but they are more similar to India than Australia for sure. In January 2016, Pakistan played the final of their premier first-class tournament Quaid-e-Azam with pink ball, and it featured the likes of Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali. The fast bowlers picked up 27 of the 34 wickets that fell, and no batsmen made a hundred. They played with a Kookaburra ball, though it wasn’t the same type that was used in the Australia Test. Misbah-ul-Haq said the dew conditions in Karachi made it “extremely difficult for batsmen”, especially once the lights were switched on. “The new pink ball was seaming a lot, the moisture on the pitch (due to heavy dew) made it tough for the batsmen. Even lining up for high catches for fielders was a challenge as the visibility of the ball wasn’t all that great,” Misbah said.

What are the venues for Duleep Trophy?

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Duleep Trophy would be held after India return from the West Indies tour, most likely in September. It will be played in south of India in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and in Mysore. Mysore hosted its first night cricket game in 2014 when they held the Karnataka Premier League games.

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First uploaded on: 10-06-2016 at 03:56 IST
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