PCB to go in for orange balls DH News Service Karachi:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to introduce orange balls in the premier domestic one-day competition, the Patron’s Cup, from February 1.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to introduce orange balls in the premier domestic one-day competition, the Patron’s Cup, from February 1.

This initiative is in keeping with the PCB’s publicly stated desire to place a proposal before the International Cricket Council (ICC) asking for the use of orange balls in Test cricket so as to minimise time lost due to bad light.

The red ball currently in vogue is difficult to pick under the artificial lights which at present are meant to merely complement natural light. Once the floodlights take complete effect, it doesn’t offer the ideal conditions under which to spot the red cricket ball.

Light conditions

Even in this series, plenty of time was lost in Lahore during the opening Test as poor light conditions took over midway through the final session.

It will be interesting to see just what kind of impact the orange ball has. Should the PCB deem the experiment to be a success and strongly recommend to the ICC, with supporting evidence, of the efficacy of using the orange balls, then cricket could well be in for a revolutionary change.

St James CC experience

It may be remembered that Mr J Greenyer conducted tests with an Orange Reader ball back in the 80's in a match which was so dark the fielders couldn't see each other and yet the batsman was still able to hit the ball for 6.The use of an orange ball may get round the lack of sight screens at Norbury this year.