MELBOURNE : The International Cricket Council has approved a trial allowing Test-playing nations to use pink balls in traditional daytime matches as part of efforts to reduce stoppages caused by bad light.
The decision was taken at an ICC board meeting in Ahmedabad on Monday, with the governing body also announcing plans to research improved lighting technology for venues and match officials to help minimise lost playing time.
Bad light has long been a source of frustration in Test cricket, often forcing umpires to suspend play for safety reasons because the red ball becomes difficult for batters to see in fading conditions.
Pink balls, which are more visible under artificial lighting and in low-light conditions, have until now been used exclusively in day-night Test matches.
Under the trial, teams will be permitted to switch to a pink ball during a daytime Test if poor light is expected to affect play. However, both sides must agree to the possibility of a ball change before the match begins.
The ICC hopes the measure will allow more cricket to be played safely while preserving the integrity of the longest format.
The board also approved a change to playing conditions that will allow head coaches and other team staff to enter the field during drinks breaks in One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals to communicate directly with players.
Previously, tactical messages could only be delivered through substitute players carrying drinks onto the field.
The move aligns international cricket more closely with major franchise T20 competitions, where coaches are commonly permitted to interact directly with players during strategic time-outs.
