First-Ever Pink-Ball Test Match Ever Played

In this article, we answer the question, ‘when was the first pink-ball Test match played?’ We look at the events leading up to the first pink ball Test match and discuss when and where it was played and what teams competed in it. We also dwell upon the first pink-ball Test match for India.

Contents

• Concerns About the Future of Test Cricket
• Need to Change the Colour of the Ball Used
• Objections by Traditionalists to Day-Night Test Matches
• Women’s Cricket Shows the Way
• Several Boards Hold Trial Pink Ball Matches
• Australia Host First Pink Ball Test Match
  • Hosts Win Low-Scoring Game
• The First Pink-Ball Test Match for India
  • India Rout Bangladesh

Concerns About the Future of Test Cricket

Towards the end of the first decade of the 21st century, Test match viewership began to dwindle. Given the increasing popularity of ODIs and T20 games under lights, the idea of holding day-night Test matches gained traction. One of the early proponents of Test cricket under lights, the then ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, in 2009 cited the example of T20 cricket to prove his point that people enjoyed watching cricket in the evening. He had enthusiastic support from James Sutherland, CEO of Cricket Australia in 2009, who believed that Australia was in a ‘bad time zone’, and that Cricket Australia’s ability to sell TV rights would improve if Australia began to host matches later than usual. The then ICC General Manager Dave Richardson warmed to the idea.

Need to

Need to Change the Colour of the Ball Used

ch agreement to experiment with Test cricket under lights, the next step involved the mechanics. To begin with, the people concerned agreed that the colour of the ball would have to be changed, as the red ball would be less visible under the lights. They thought of various possibilities and conducted experiments with pink, orange, and yellow balls. They even considered a suggestion that players in coloured kits should use a white ball that would be engineered to last 80 overs.

Objectio

Objections by Traditionalists to Day-Night Test Matches

nalists sought to preserve test cricket from the non-traditional trappings of ODI and T20 cricket. With a plan to hold England’s Test match versus Bangladesh at Lord’s, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sought the help of counties — Durham and Worcester — to try out the pink bank in a four-day county game. But the counties did not comply, with Durham coach Geoff Cook expressing his disapproval to media.

Women’s Cricket

Women’s Cricket Shows the Way

came to the rescue when the pink ball was used in a women’s one day game between England and Australia in 2009. Not much later, in January 2010, men’s cricket followed suit. The pink ball featured in a day-night first-class game in Antigua between Trinidad &Tobago and Guyana.

Several Boards Hold Tria

Several Boards Hold Trial Pink Ball Matches

trial pink ball match came true when the MCC and Durham, the 2009 season champions, met in the 2010 Champion County match in a day-night match in Abu Dhabi. In 2011, Canterbury hosted a Division Two County Championship pink-ball game under lights. Pink-ball matches were subsequently held by the Pakistan Board in 2011-12 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, as well as by the South Africa and Bangladesh boards in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, the Australian board used pink balls in a whole round of Sheffield Shield games held under lights.

Australia Host First Pin

Australia Host First Pink Ball Test Match

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