BGT: The pink ball predicament

Adelaide: The sun was setting and the flood lights were on. This was precisely the time Indians had chosen to commence their practice -- the twilight zone. It's an intriguing phase for batters as fading natural light and bright artificial lights compromise one's vision. And it was around that time, Yashasvi Jaiswal, with a magnificent 161 in the first Test, was trying to perfect his pull during India's 'nets' here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

He was facing three throwdown specialists with all three seemingly instructed to bowl short balls with sidearms. He connected some, missed a few and got into awkward positions against a few others. After a while, he asked only one of the three to bowl as the other two were repeatedly missing the length. The left-hander's eagerness, even desperation, to effectively deal with the short-pitched deliveries was understandable. He wasn't particularly comfortable against them during India's pink-ball warm-up game against PM's XI, eventually falling to one after a few miscued attempts.

Pink-ball is a great addition to cricket, but it comes with its own set of challenges. That only 22 Tests have been played so far since it was first held in November 2009 between Australia and New Zealand it still remains a jigsaw puzzle for all -- batters, bowlers, wicketkeepers/fielders. 

It may not be as much to do with one's technique but the dynamics that the pink ball brings to the game. Records show batting is most difficult under lights as the ball swings a lot more but during twilight, too, it gets tricky for there is a high percentage of depth perception going wrong. The ball may appear farther or nearer than you would think. This error in judgement may force a batter to play a false shot.      

The wicketkeeper and fielders, too, can be affected by the faulty depth perception. You could be too early or too late into judging the distance of a ball, resulting in a potential drop catch.  

“I think, at times, when the lights do come on and the light does change, it can be a little bit of depth perception and just making sure, as you always do, to watch the ball as closely as possible," Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey weighed in. "But it is different. You don't train it every session you play. You try to adapt as quickly as possible. We've got three sessions. Had a session yesterday (Monday), a field today, (a session) under lights tomorrow. And hopefully we're cherry ripe to go. 

"But at times, behind the stumps, it can just look like a bit of a glow, rather than and see the seam. I'm not sure what it looks like from the side, but at times, it sort of can be hard to pick up," he offered.

Notwithstanding their domination in pink ball Tests, bowlers aren't without their share of challenges. The extra layer of coat and the seam, which is more pronounced compared to the red ball, bring their own complexities as they impact the behaviour of the ball in day and under lights. 

"The ball gives a synthetic kind of feel because it is a bit different from the red ball," said Mohammed Siraj after bowling with the pink ball for the first time in the match against PM's XI in Canberra. "There is a scope for some confusion but if you focus on the match and practice as much as possible, then you will get better day by day."

What sort of confusion?

"Because the seam is much harder and more pronounced -- generally you see that the SG ball, the seam is harder but here the seam is brighter, bigger. So there is some confusion but the more you practice, the better you will get."

You can surely sense the confusion in the explanation as well. While that's the kind of test everyone is up against, the records show pink ball Test has been a bowlers' game. 

All 22 pink-ball Tests have produced results. Only five of those Tests have gone into the fifth day with two of them ending on the second day itself.