Usman Khawaja, a seasoned cricketer, has boldly declared his stance against the pink ball, asserting that he would retire if it were ever introduced as a permanent replacement in Test cricket.
The ongoing pink-versus-red ball debate gained momentum during the third Test between Australia and Pakistan at the SCG when play was suspended due to bad light.
Khawaja, speaking to the media after the day’s play, emphasized his belief that Test cricket’s essence lies in the red ball, which reacts distinctly compared to the pink and white counterparts used in limited-overs formats. He stated, “Nothing reacts like that red ball. How they make it, the dye they put on it.”
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Despite calls from cricket legends like Michael Vaughan advocating for the pink ball’s permanent adoption to mitigate bad light stoppages, Khawaja remained firm, expressing, “If it is, I’m retiring.”
“Unless you can find a way to replicate the sun, the lights aren’t the same, the lights shining on a red ball is really hard to see.
“The pink ball is a lot better, but it doesn’t react the same as the red and this is my argument. This is Test cricket.”
During the recent match, the umpires faced criticism for offering the fielding side the chance to bowl spinners when neither had a working light meter on the field. However, once a light meter was sourced, their decision was validated.
In response to the call for a universal pink ball in Test matches, Vaughan suggested potential alternatives, including using a pink ball when light deteriorates. He highlighted the challenges batters face in different light conditions and urged cricket to find innovative solutions.
Usman Khawaja, echoing the sentiments of traditionalists, emphasized the enduring beauty of Test cricket, which has largely remained unchanged for a century. “It’s still bat versus ball, the competition’s still there, the wicket still deteriorates (and) the team most disciplined most of the time still wins. It’s a long grind,” Khawaja said.
“Yeah, there’s parts of Test cricket that have changed over the years. But the basic concept of it hasn’t.”
