ICC approves trial of pink ball use in day Tests - if teams agree before a series

Australia batter Usman Khawaja is struck on the arm by a pink ball during a day-night Test.
Australia batter Usman Khawaja is struck on the arm by a pink ball during a day-night Test.RANDY BROOKS / AFP

Cricket's test-playing nations will be able ⁠to use pink balls instead of red ones in traditional daytime ‌matches as part of a trial to prevent ‌play being lost due to ‌bad light.

The International Cricket Council approved the ‌trial at a meeting of its ‌board in Ahmedabad on Monday and said it would also undertake research on ‌lighting technology for match officials ⁠and venues ‌to "reduce lost play due to poor light".

Bad ​light often halts play in test matches for safety reasons, ​with the red ball being harder for batters to see.

Pink balls, which are ⁠easier to ​see at floodlit stadiums, have been exclusively used in day-night tests until now.

As part of the trial, teams would need ‌to agree to the pink ball switch before the start of a match that may be impacted by poor light.

The ICC board also approved a recommendation that will allow head coaches or other staff to enter the field of play during ‌drinks breaks to consult with players ​in one-day and T20 internationals.

Previously, coaches' ‌messages could only be relayed by players running drinks onto the field.

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

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