Why are pink balls used instead of red in day-night Tests?

Australia and India are set to square off in a Day Night Test for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The game at the Adelaide Oval will be played between Friday, December 06 and 10. Before the Adelaide encounter, a tour game between PM's XI and the visiting Indian side will be played at the Manuka Oval, Canberra in what is set to be a two-day affair.

Notably, a D/N Test is played with a pink leather ball with the first of its kind played between Australia and New Zealand back in 2015. For the Tests to be played under the lights, Pink ball is used instead of the traditional red ball which has left many confused.

There is a notion among a few of the fans about the red ball not being used in the day-night Tests. The main reason for the same is the pink balls are visible during the night time under the floodlights, unlike the red balls which are less reflective. The red balls are not clearly visible as much as they do during the day time which is why normally we witness, the umpires calling off the day when the light goes down in the day Tests.

Pink ball, on the other hand, are bright and can be picked up under the lights which makes it easy for the batsmen and the fielders to spot it. Further, the white balls can’t be used as they clash with the traditional white clothing

Pink ball swings less during day time

However, there are few more challenges which the bowlers will have to face while bowling with the pink ball. Also, the ball tends to lose its shine after a few over which is why extra lacquer is applied to it while the curator also leaves more grass on the surface. While it doesn’t swing much early, the shining pink ball livens up the action under the lights. The bowlers get a huge amount of swing and batting in the third session is more challenging.

Both India and Australia will have to consider these challenges before crossing swords at the iconic Adelaide Oval and plan accordingly. India are leading the five-match series by 1-0 and at the moment, the things are all spiced up for the WTC finale race.