Stephen O’Keefe backs Pink-ball to succeed after slight modifications

O'Keefe backs Pink-ball to succeed

Australian left-arm off spinner Stephen O’Keefe has given his backing for Pink-ball, but has casted doubts whether it can sustain in the subcontinent conditions. The Pink-ball has been talk of the town ever since the first Day-Night Test was played out between Australia and New Zealand in 2015. Since then, there have been mixed suggestions regarding the format. While Cricket Australia have given their backing by scheduling two Pink-ball Tests later this year, teams like South Africa have been bit skeptical about the idea. As for subcontinent teams, Pakistan will be the first to feature in a Pink-ball Test later this year during their tour of Australia. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test match

O’Keefe, member of Australia’s test side for tour to Sri Lanka, was quoted by cricbuzz as saying, “There are ways in which the ball can be improved. They should try and ensure the ball does not deteriorate quickly. The idea should be to get it to move like the red ball; to get it as close to the red ball as possible. As of now, with the pink ball, the twilight hours could be quite hard to bat in, as it can swing more under lights, and if you’re playing on a grassy wicket it tends to do a bit more. If it is kept improving, I think it’ll certainly be around to stay.”

The left-arm off spinner, who is in Chennai preparing for the Test series, also gave his views on the sustainability of Pink-ball in subcontinent conditions. “In its present form, pink ball will be hard to sustain if the condition of the wickets remain like this [in India]. The ball does roughen, gets scuffed up pretty easy and changes colour. Play gets difficult once the pink fades. The current ball has to be modified if one wants it to last in these conditions. The wear and tear of the pitches here will take a fair bit out of the ball. I’m not sure if the SG ball behaves different. But I don’t think it would last here in its current form.”

As of now, India are the only subcontinent nation to have tested the pink-ball, when Mohun Bagan played Bhowanipore Club in CAB final.