Pink-ball games have been part of Test cricket for a decade now, but one contemporary stalwart believes they are unnecessary, at least in an Ashes series.
Ahead of the Brisbane Test starting on December 4, England great Joe Root has questioned whether the high-profile series needs a day-night game and all the various dynamics that come with it.
“A series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be here either.”
Root’s apprehension may have a basis in England’s prospects in the series. The upcoming Test will be the fourth in Ashes history to be played with a pink ball, with Australia winning the previous three. Overall, they have won all but one of the 14 such games. Their pace spearhead Mitchell Starc seems to get even deadlier with a pink ball in hand.
England are already 0-1 down in the five-match series after the two-day defeat in Perth and desperately need to bounce back in Brisbane. A 0-2 deficit going into the third Test in Adelaide would severely jeopardise their ambitions of regaining the coveted urn.
The pink-ball innovation was brought to boost Test match attendances and cater to TV viewership, with the latter part of the day’s play taking place during prime time. The first three days of the Brisbane Test are already sold out.
Root has played each of England’s previous seven day-night Tests, captaining in six of them, and said they have to be aware of “how quickly the game can change” under floodlights.
“At different phases of the day, it can feel quite placid and you can feel out of the game with the ball, and things can turn around,” the 34-year-old said.
“Similarly, with the bat, [it is about] recognising those moments and utilising them as best you can: when to put the foot down and maximise the good batting conditions; similarly, being able to maximise it when it changes and how quickly it changes.”
The second Ashes Test will be a novelty even in the limited history of pink-ball games as a lot more of the day’s play will be held in artificial light. The sun will set during the second session of play, while usually it’s the final session that’s played under floodlights.
“It looks like we’ll have half of a day under floodlights. The twilight phase is in the middle session, when usually that comes around the back end of the second session and the start of the last session,” Root observed.
“There will be different elements to contend with, but that is all part of the fun, right? Can we be skillful enough and brave enough to be better than Australia in those big moments?”
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