ICC considering pink ball option for Test matches delayed by bad light
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is discussing whether to allow a pink ball to be used during Test matches that would otherwise be stopped for bad light, according to The Age.
The report states that the ICC will continue to discuss the potential rule change in the coming weeks.
If it gets the tick of approval, it could be in place for Australia's home summer against New Zealand, as well as the tour of South Africa in late 2026.
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Bad light and rain stops play in Sydney during the Ashes. PA Images via Getty Images
Under the new rule, both teams would have to agree before the series begins to using a pink ball to continue play when the match would otherwise be sent off for bad light.
The fifth Ashes test in Sydney was sent off on day one for bad light, but as an example, England would have to agree to using the pink ball for it to even be an option.
They Sydney New Year's Test in particular has been plagued by fading light stoppages over the years.
While Australia has embraced day-night cricket and the pink ball, England in particular has gone the opposite way. They haven't hosted a pink-ball Test since 2017.
Of the 25 day-night tests played since Australia launched the concept in 2015, 14 have been hosted by the Aussies. India has hosted three, while New Zealand, Pakistan and the West Indies two.
Cricketers themselves have been lukewarm at best on the pink ball, which might also lead to hesitation in adopting this change. Particularly if it is only for an hour in an otherwise red-ball match.
Dark skies engulf the SCG. PA Images via Getty Images
The pink ball has been a weapon for seamers since it was introduced, with Mitchell Starc in particular dominating the format.
Switching to a pink ball late in a day's play with failing light could have an enormous impact on a match.
Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg has previously expressed his frustration with bad light stoppages, saying in January he would push the ICC to innovate and find a solution.
"There's a lot of things I get frustrated with in cricket, bad light's one of them," Greenberg said on SEN Radio.
"I caution those remarks against the remarks of players who said they couldn't pick the ball up and it was really dark and those sorts of things. But I get frustrated that we don't have a solution to this problem.
Umpire Chris Gaffaney calls players from the field as bad light suspends play on day one in Sydney. Cricket Australia via Getty Imag
"We sit under the ICC rules and guidelines so we have to respect that, but I do think we can use our voice to advocate for a change. Let's show a little bit of willingness to see if we can be better at this.
"We're in the entertainment business. I can't think of another business that continues to walk off in front of its fans. Again, I preface that by saying it has to be safe for the players, clearly, but we've got big light towers here and we've got technology. I'm sure there's a way we can make our way through it."
It's unclear if this change was actually proposed by Cricket Australia.
