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Currently, India are taking on hosts Australia in a pink ball Test as part of the second match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy in Adelaide. Fans must be intrigued to know about the difference between the conventional red ball used in the Test cricket and the unusual pink ball.
Well, the first pink ball Test was played in 2015 between Australia and New Zealand. However, since then, there have been so few Tests in both international and domestic cricket. It could be the reason why players haven’t fully adapted to the unusual ball with which a Test match is played once in a year.
According to experts, the biggest difference between the two balls is the amount of lacquer (shiny coating) on both. While the red ball’s cherry red livery is carefully polished, the pink ball has some paint applied to it during manufacturing.
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Moreover, instead of just polishing, an extra layer of lacquer is added to the pink ball so the ball can last longer. The seam (stitching) on the ball remains largely the same as per the manufacturer’s standards.
With an extra coat of shine on the pink ball, the shine doesn’t go away as quickly as the red ball and it stays longer. This is the reason why the pink ball moves laterally in the air for more overs than the red cherry.
The pink ball also skids more due to the extra lacquer. As a result, both pacers and spinners can deceive the batters due to a noticeable change in pace.
