Pink balls to be used in day tests to increase playing time in test presented by International Cricket Council | Cricket news

Test-playing nations will be able to use pink balls instead of red in regular daytime matches as part of a trial to prevent matches being lost due to poor lighting.

The International Cricket Council approved the trial at a board meeting in Ahmedabad on Monday and said it would also conduct research into lighting technology for match officials and venues to “reduce play due to poor lighting”.

Bad lighting often stops Test matches for safety reasons, ⁠⁠the red ball making it difficult for the batsmen to see.

Pink balls, which are easy to spot on floodlit pitches, have been used exclusively in night Tests so far.

As part of the trial, teams will need to agree on a change of pink ball before the start of the game that may be affected by bad lighting.

The ICC board also approved a recommendation that would allow head coaches or other staff to enter the playing field during breaks to interact with players in one-day and T20 matches.

Previously, coaches’ messages could only be conveyed by players drinking on the field.

Allowing coaches on the field during time-outs has been a feature of T20 franchise teams.

There have been 25 men’s day-night Tests since the first between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide 11 years ago.

Only one has happened in England, when the home team beat the West Indies at Edgbaston in 2017.

England are considering scrapping a day-night Test for their next Ashes tour in 2029-30, but the 150th anniversary test between the countries in Melbourne next March will be held at night.

Ben Stokes’ side lost by eight wickets to Australia in Brisbane in their last pink-ball Test in December.

The ICC board also approved several other recommendations from the management committee, including:

• Enabling match officials to access Hawk-Eye data when considering reporting illegal bowling action.
• Revisions to playing conditions to allow head coaches or designees to communicate with teams during scheduled refreshments, mandate 15-minute intervals in T20I matches, and require batsmen to be ready at the start of play.
• Permanent acceptance of legside widths test.
• The adoption of all remaining MCC cricket rules changes from 1 October.
• Updates to the Official Cricket Classification, which ensures that teams in the CWC Challenge League remain eligible to play additional List A limited overs matches during the Challenge League competition cycle.

England squad for first Test against New Zealand: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

Watch the first test between England and New Zealand, at Lord’s, live Sky Sports Cricket again The Great Event from 10am on Thursday (first ball at 11am). Don’t have Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream NOW.