Cricket Jun 18, 2026

Pink balls will be used in day Tests to maximise playing time in trial introduced by International Cricket Council

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Pink balls will be used in day Tests to maximise playing time in trial introduced by International Cricket Council

Test-playing nations will be able to ‌use pink balls instead of red ones in traditional daytime matches ‌as part of a trial to prevent play being ​lost due to bad light.

The International Cricket Council approved the trial at a ​meeting of its board in ‌Ahmedabad on Monday and said it would also undertake research ​on lighting technology for match officials and venues to "reduce lost play due to poor light".

Bad light ​often halts play in Test ⁠matches for safety reasons, ⁠with the red ball being harder for batters to see.

Pink balls, which ‌are easier to see at floodlit stadiums, have been exclusively used in day-night Tests until ‌now.

As part of the trial, teams would need to agree to the pink ball switch before the start of a match that may be ⁠impacted by poor light.

The ICC board ​also approved a recommendation that will ​allow head coaches or other staff to ​enter the field of play during drinks ⁠breaks to consult with players in one-day and T20 internationals.

Previously, coaches' messages could only be ⁠relayed by players running drinks ​onto the field.

Allowing coaches on the field during ​strategic time-outs has been a feature of T20 franchise leagues.

There have been 25 day-night men's Tests since the first between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide 11 years ago.

Only one has taken place in England, when the hosts beat West Indies at Edgbaston in 2017.

England are considering rejecting a day-night Test for their next Ashes tour in 2029-30, but the 150th anniversary Test between the nations in Melbourne next March will be a day-nighter.

Ben Stokes' side lost by eight wickets to Australia in Brisbane in their last pink ball Test in December.

The ICC Board also approved several other recommendations from the chief executives committee, including:

England squad for first Test against New Zealand: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

Watch the first Test between England and New Zealand, at Lord's, live on Your Site Cricket and Main Event from 10am on Thursday (11am first ball). Not got Sky? or .

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

Jofra Archer: England fast bowler's fiery spell to Glenn Phillips lights up The Oval on day one of second Test

Jofra Archer: England fast bowler's fiery spell to Glenn Phillips lights up The Oval on day one of second Test

Jofra Archer showed no signs of rust as he made his England Test return, the pacer producing a box-office, fiery eight-over spell of short-pitched bow...

Charlotte Edwards opens up on "tough decision" to omit Tammy Beaumont from England Women's T20 World Cup squad

Charlotte Edwards opens up on "tough decision" to omit Tammy Beaumont from England Women's T20 World Cup squad

Charlotte Edwards has opened up on the “tough decision” to omit Tammy Beaumont from England’s upcoming Women's T20 World Cup squad but revealed she co...

England Women's big summer of cricket: Charlotte Edwards' side to play first-ever Test at Lord's ahead of T20 World Cup

England Women's big summer of cricket: Charlotte Edwards' side to play first-ever Test at Lord's ahead of T20 World Cup

It is gearing up to be a monumental summer for Charlotte Edwards and England's Women's cricket side.Games are coming thick and fast ahead of this year...

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: How long can India ignore 15-year-old wonderkid - and could he be unleashed against England?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: How long can India ignore 15-year-old wonderkid - and could he be unleashed against England?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wrote his name into the history books by becoming the youngest IPL centurion - just nine days after his record‑breaking debut as...

Sarah Taylor named fielding coach for England’s men’s side in watershed moment

Sarah Taylor named fielding coach for England’s men’s side in watershed moment

Former England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor will take on a ground-breaking role with the men's national side after being appointed as fielding coach for...

Kevin Pietersen: Sir Alastair Cook has no idea what IPL is like - 'Jacob Bethell should ignore him'

Kevin Pietersen: Sir Alastair Cook has no idea what IPL is like - 'Jacob Bethell should ignore him'

Kevin Pietersen reignited his long-running feud with Sir Alastair Cook over his former England team-mate's criticisms of Jacob Bethell being at the In...