Why is a Pink Ball Used in the Ashes?

The ongoing day-night Test between England and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane during the Ashes 2025-26 has once again brought the spotlight on the use of the pink ball. Australia, the pioneers in this format, are featuring in their 15th day-night Test — the most by any team — whereas England have participated in only seven and still struggle to find rhythm under lights. So let’s know Why is the pink ball used in Test cricket?

But the big question remains — why did ICC introduce the pink ball, and what makes it the preferred choice for day-night Test cricket?

Why Was the Pink Ball Introduced in Test Cricket?

Over the last decade, the appeal of Test cricket has gradually declined. With T20 leagues booming worldwide and ODIs becoming more result-driven, the longer format has struggled to pull crowds, especially for matches played during daytime.

To revive interest, the ICC introduced day-night Test cricket, a format scheduled to start later in the day and extend into the evening. The concept allows working audiences to attend live matches after work hours and encourages greater stadium participation and broadcast viewership.

However, traditional red balls were not easily visible under floodlights, leading to the birth of the pink ball — a version designed to retain visibility at night and provide a fresh tactical dimension to the game.

Why Pink Specifically? The Science Behind It

Under artificial lighting, the red ball tends to blend with the dark background, making it difficult for spectators and fielders to track. The white ball, on the other hand, is reserved for limited-overs cricket and wears out quickly, making it unsuitable for five-day games.

Pink stood out as the best alternative because:

  • It offers better visibility under lights

  • Retains color longer than white during extended play

  • Enhances swing and seam movement during twilight — a phase bowlers love and batters fear

This balance of performance and visibility made the pink ball the ideal choice for day-night Tests, including fixtures in the Ashes.

Pink Ball in the Ashes – A New Layer of Challenge

The Ashes in Brisbane showcases how the twilight period becomes a crucial session. Bowlers often find exaggerated movement under lights, while batters must adapt instantly to changing conditions.

Australia’s familiarity with these conditions gives them a significant advantage, while England continue to search for consistency in pink-ball cricket — a narrative that adds drama to every night Test between the two rivals.

Conclusion

The pink ball wasn’t just a cosmetic shift — it became a solution to modernize Test cricket, attract fans back, and keep the format relevant in a fast-paced cricketing world. With the Ashes adopting more day-night fixtures, the pink ball has now become an iconic part of cricket’s evolution, blending tradition with innovation.

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