Pink Ball And Red Ball In Same Test: ICC To Make Major Changes In Playing Conditions

Jay Shah the chair of ICC [Source: AFP]

In a series of interesting revelations, the International Cricket Council is mulling over major changes to the playing conditions in red-ball, white-ball, and pink-ball cricket, with proposals to T20 innings break times, ball colour, and head coach intervention during drinks breaks. The most significant of them comes in the face of a change from red-ball cricket to pink-ball cricket.

For Test whites, the red ball has been the customary colour since the invention of the game. Switching from a red ball to a pink ball in the same format represents a break from traditional cricket that the ICC is currently considering.

Jay Shah’s ICC Set To Use Red Ball And Pink Ball In The Same Test Match

Notably, the ICC is considering using differently coloured balls in the same format. Hence, there is consideration of switching from the red ball to the pink ball during a conventional Test match.

According to a CricBuzz report, under current conditions, teams may be permitted to use the pink ball instead of a red ball if both sides agree to continue under lights in the event of weather interruptions.

While the details of the proposed changes are still in the works, it will be complicated to determine how the transition from the red ball to the pink ball will be managed over the course of a Test match.

How The Red Ball To Pink Ball Change Might Take Effect?

According to the report, ‘mutual consent’ from both teams is required to switch the balls. Even if one team disagrees, the pink ball cannot be used by the bowling team under poor conditions or in poor light.

Further details of this massive development are expected to be clarified when the amendment is approved or the ICC puts out an official release itself.

During the ICC Chief Executives Committee meeting held virtually on Thursday, with Sourav Ganguly, the head of the ICC Cricket Committee, among the participants, this proposal was discussed, with the result likely to be out in Ahmedabad on May 30 during another meeting of the ICC board.

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How ICC Amends Its Rules And Playing Conditions?

For the unaware, the International Cricket Council amends its rules, officially known as Playing Conditions, through a structured and multi-tier committee process.

The Cricket Committee, composed of ex-cricketers, umpires, and coaches, identifies the issues and proposes changes.

Once the committee drafts the proposals, they are forwarded to the Chief Executives Committee, a body consisting of the CEOs of the Full Member nations, which then debates the feasibility, fairness, and global impact of the changes before ultimately voting to approve or reject them.

The recommendations from the CEC are then presented to the ICC Board of Directors for final ratification and are ultimately signed off on or rejected based on a meeting with Full Member nations and Associate Member representatives.

Significantly, after a rule is approved or playing conditions are changed, the ICC sets a specific timeline for the new rules to take effect, which are usually rolled out at the start of a new bilateral series or a major ICC tournament.

Head Coaches To Enter Field During Drinks Breaks

Alongside the ball change, the proposed amendments also allow the head coach to enter the field during drinks breaks. This will primarily be seen in ODI cricket, where only substitute players are currently permitted to enter the field of play.

However, going forward, the head coach might also be permitted to enter the field, although it is not clear whether the coach will be required to wear the team jersey. In one-day cricket, two drinks breaks per innings are permitted, and each is scheduled one hour and 10 minutes apart.

T20 Innings Break Timings Reduced

In another development, the ICC has proposed reducing the innings break to 15 minutes in T20I games.

The existing playing condition states a 20-minute interval between innings, taken from the call of time before the interval until the call of play on resumption after the interval.

However, going forward, the ICC would like to see the teams back on the field after just a 15-minute break and regrouping.

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