Concerns raised over 'soft' pink ball ahead of Perth day-night Test
The manufacturer of the pink ball used for day-night Tests in Australia has defended its product amid fresh concerns over its durability.
Australia A seamer Sean Abbott said the ball had gone "soft" as Pakistan's batsmen, who traditionally struggle on the bouncier conditions on these shores, scored heavily in their first long-form game of the tour.
But Kookaburra claim there is little difference from the ball used last season, saying the surface had played a bigger factor in the ball wearing.
The Australia A game at Perth's Optus Stadium is not only a dress rehearsal for Test aspirants, but also for the pink ball to be used for the first time at the venue next month.
Australia has hosted Tests under lights at the Adelaide Oval and the Gabba in Brisbane, but not at Perth's new stadium.
Kookaburra has made several changes to the pink ball, which copped plenty of criticism over its durability and visibility leading to its unveiling for cricket's first day-night Test four years ago.
The latest feedback is at odds with the pink ball's reputation for being bowler-friendly, particularly during twilight when the new ball tends to swing more as floodlights take over from natural light.
"The pink ball got a bit soft as it tends to do over here," Abbott said. "If we were able to bowl a harder ball for longer periods we would have produced a lot more opportunities."
Kookaburra has come under fire before for its traditional red ball, most notably in 2015 after several replacements were needed during the Perth Test against New Zealand. One new ball lasted just three deliveries.
Curators in Adelaide and Brisbane have tailored their Test strips by leaving on extra grass to slow down the deterioration of the pink ball.
An extra pressure for curators at Perth Stadium is CA's goal for pitches this year to earn a rating of "good" or "very good". It was rated "average", the lowest pass mark, last year by the International Cricket Council after a match where batsmen were struck due to uneven bounce.
A spokesman for Kookaburra said the ball deteriorated more on a flat wicket.
"The pink balls to be used in Test and first-class matches this summer have minimal difference to last summer where balls showed improved resilience from previous season," Kookaburra said.
"As we say with all balls, but particularly the pink ball, the pitch plays the most important part in determining the way a match is played and how the ball naturally deteriorates.
"From reports it seems like the track was quite flat so naturally that's going to mean a different rate of deterioration than on a green seaming wicket.
"The last pink ball Test in Australia was in Brisbane earlier in the year where teams made totals of 144, 139 and 323, and there wasn't any discussion around the ball's hardness at that Test.
"Of course, good batting by Pakistan might be a simple explanation too."
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-of-perth-day-night-test-20191112-p539z7.html
. I was just trying to say anything that makes our dying format more exciting/pulls more people should be tried/experimented with.
