The second Ashes Test this year will be played under lights in Brisbane — a setting that instantly sparks the classic pink ball vs red ball debate. As fans get ready for the only pink ball Test match of the series, curiosity is spiking again: what is pink ball Test, why does it exist, and why do teams struggle so differently in it? With England desperate to level the series and Australia almost unbeatable in day-nighters, this match promises a fresh layer of drama.
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What Is Pink Ball Test and When Is It Used?
Imagine watching a Test match in prime time, a full crowd after office hours, clearer TV visibility, and a more exciting spectacle. That’s exactly why the ICC introduced day-night Tests in 2015. But here’s the conflict. Cricket wanted larger audiences, but the traditional red ball simply wasn’t visible under floodlights. It turned brown, hazy, and difficult to track especially for batters facing 140+ km/h pace. Therefore, the pink ball was introduced as a middle-ground solution: bright enough for evening play, durable enough to last 80 overs, and balanced enough for both bat and ball. Now the kicker? Day-night Tests aren’t mandatory. The host nation typically decides based on:
2. Climate and daylight hours: Places with early sunsets use it more often.
3. Stadium lighting quality: Not every ground is equipped for perfect visibility.
4. Tradition vs innovation: Some boards, like England’s, use it sparingly.
Australia embraced the idea so completely that 13 of the 24 day-night Tests in cricket history have been played there, and they’ve won 12 of them. England? Just two wins in seven attempts. This brings us naturally to the next question: does the ball itself behave differently? Yes. A lot. And here’s where things get tactical.
Pink Ball vs Red Ball：How They Differ and Why It Matters
Before we dive deep, let’s place the keyword here naturally: One of the biggest reasons teams prepare differently for these matches is the effect of pink vs red ball behaviour across different phases of the day.
Pink ball time 🩷 pic.twitter.com/WqzUp9Xlnj
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 29, 2025
Let’s break it down. Under sunlight, the pink ball tends to feel placid. Bowlers often say it “goes soft early,” meaning long periods where batters feel comfortable. But wait for sunset, and everything flips. The seam grips harder. The lacquer makes it zip. And suddenly, even good batters struggle to pick length under lights.
Joe Root himself described it as “phases where the ball feels harmless and phases where it feels unplayable.” Mitchell Starc — the most successful pink-ball bowler in Test history — benefits enormously from this. His 140-150 km/h angle, plus heavy swing under lights, makes him almost unplayable after dusk. But let’s deepen your understanding with a table.
| Feature | Pink Ball | Red Ball |
| Visibility | High visibility under floodlights | Poor visibility under lights |
| Coating | Polyurethane coating for shine retention | Wax coating that wears faster |
| Seam Colour | Black seam for contrast | White seam traditionally |
| Swing Behaviour | Swings more under lights; unpredictable movement | Strong early swing, then reverses late |
| Wear & Tear | Lasts longer but can feel harder | Wears quicker; softer surface |
| Best Conditions | Twilight + night sessions | Morning + afternoon sessions |
| Batting Difficulty | Hard to see at night; sudden movement | Stable throughout the day |
| Strategy Impact | Toss becomes crucial; the timing of the new ball matters | More conventional strategies |
These differences shape strategy dramatically. In Brisbane, Stuart Broad called the upcoming pink ball Test match a “lottery,” because whoever bowls with a brand-new ball under lights gets an outsized advantage. That’s why he insists teams should always bat first, even if conditions seem tricky, just to ensure they get the new ball at the right time.
But here’s the twist. If England bat first and collapse before dusk? Australia gets the new ball under lights. Game over. This is where day-night Tests become a whole different sport. The question now is: how do teams handle these tricky transitions? England’s challenge is bigger because:
2. Their main express bowler, Mark Wood, might miss out due to knee soreness.
3. Australia’s attack, Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, is built for evening swing.
That’s why Root, despite being confident in his experience, admits he still needs to “construct an innings differently” with the pink ball in Australia. All of this shows the same idea: The ball changes the entire nature of the contest.
Why This Day–Night Ashes Test Matters More Than You Think
So, was the hype worth it? Absolutely! Because understanding pink ball vs red ball dynamics helps you watch the game with deeper insight, especially as the second Ashes Test heads into night sessions where one hour can flip an entire match.
Now that you know what is pink ball Test, how it affects bowlers, batters, strategy, timing, toss decisions, and visibility, you’ll notice patterns regular viewers often miss. And with the Gabba hosting another intense pink ball Test match, every spell under lights becomes a moment to watch closely. Whether you’re cheering for Australia or hoping England level the series, this match will test discipline, timing, and tactical courage, a true chess match under lights.
