ICC’s New Pink-Ball Option Comes Too Late for Durban Bad-Light Delays

What changed

The ICC has amended Test playing conditions so South Africa and Australia can agree before a match to use the pink ball. But no agreement was made before the first Test in Durban, where more than 60 overs disappeared to bad light across three days and Australia still lead by 139 runs.

Why it matters

The frustrating part is that cricket now has an approved option for this exact problem, but it cannot be introduced once the match is under way. At Kingsmead, day one ended after just 65.2 of 90 scheduled overs, while play also stopped early on days two and three because the umpires judged the light dangerous or unreasonable.

The pink ball is normally associated with day-night Tests, yet the new rule allows teams to use it throughout a match when poor light is expected. Shaun Pollock argues that it could have produced 45 more overs in Durban. The obstacle is less the rule than the ball’s reputation: some players believe it moves more, while batters have said it can be harder to see.

That leaves captains with a choice before the first delivery: accept the pink ball’s uncertainties, or risk losing another afternoon to thickening cloud. Whether teams adopt the option, and whether it would materially reduce stoppages in conditions like these, remains unclear.