Pink Cricket Ball

While ICC has been pondering about going ahead with introduction of the pink ball in cricket, MCC has already gone ahead and introduced the same in some recent matches that too under the flood lights. Now for the ladies who have developed a big fan following, it indeed would be a moment to rejoice as it is for the first time that in this so-called masculine game, though women are playing, some feminine touch has been added. After all, pink is one of the favorite colors for all of the ladies and now even the Mandarins of cricket at MCC have decided to accept the reality and inject pink color into the game of cricket. MCC as a matter of fact tested the pink ball under the flood lights and have been rather happy with the results. The idea behind testing the pink balls under the floodlights was to see whether the pink ball loses its color and becomes discolored as it happens with the white ball these days, which eats away into vital time of the game, and the poor captains have to pay penalty for the delays arising.

Incidentally, though pink ball may have been experimented with, pink color has already made its debut. But we may not have noticed it, and who introduced it? it was Mathew Hayden who used pink rubber in the handle of his bat and has now made it his trade mark, and it seems the fellow Aussie Andrew Symonds has also been inspired from his former teammate as he has also started using the pink handle cover in his bat. These introductions are specific to the players and when the player is not batting the color may not be visible, but with the pink ball, it would be present till the game comes to an end. Does it therefore not call for a celebration? Indeed, it does call for celebration and it is time when all the lady fans of the game of cricket unite and demand from the ICC that the pink ball may be made a part and parcel of the game of cricket.

Successful experiments with pink ball may mean that now test cricket may be played under the floodlights with pink balls. Would this mean that the red cherry, the original color of the cricket ball is on the way out? It may be, as most of the cricket now is being played under the floodlights. Keeps this space watching for further developments?

By: Suman Rai

Tags: Cricket, Cricket Ball, ICC, MCC, Pink Cricket Ball, Sports, Test Cricket