Australian spinner Shane Warne believes that the red ball, employed for most Test matches, which has been in use since the start of the game, should be replaced by the pink ball altogether, even for day Test matches.
"I've been saying this for the last few years. I believe the pink ball should be used in all Test matches. Day games, not just day-night games," Warne was heard saying while commentating on Fox Cricket during the first Australia-India Test in Adelaide.
Recounting the advantages of a pink ball over the red one, Warne said, "The pink ball, you can actually see the ball easier, the crowd can see the ball easier.” He further asked, “It generally does more than the red ball and it looks fantastic on TV. So why not use a pink ball the whole time?”
"Maybe change it at 60 overs because it goes soft, but I'd be using the pink ball for every Test match so more of it I would say," he added.
Vehemently opposing use of the red cherry, the 51-year-old added, "No more red ball, it doesn't swing, it doesn't do anything, goes soft after 25 overs. It has been pathetic for so long now. Except for the Dukes ball in England, it has been rubbish."
The man with more than 700 Test scalps with the red ball himself believes that now the time for change has come. "The pink ball can't be any worse than what the red ball has been for Test cricket. We haven't seen swing, we haven't seen seam. Absolutely nothing."
Pink ball has generally offered more help to the bowlers and in five years since its first use, no pink ball Test, which is also a day/night match, has ended in a draw.
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