Andrew McDonald has raised concerns over the use of the pink Duke ball in Test cricket.
Following the West Indies’ batting collapse in the Jamaica Test, McDonald voiced his worries about the pink Duke ball in day-night Tests. The Australian head coach called for a fresh review of the ball’s role in the elite format of cricket.
The day-night Test between Australia and West Indies in Kingston ended on the third day itself. In a match dominated by bowlers, no team managed to score even 250 runs. Chasing a target of 204, the Caribbean side was bowled out for just 27 runs.
There has only been one lower team total in Test history: New Zealand were all out for 26 runs against England in Auckland back in 1955. Nearly 70 years later, West Indies narrowly missed setting a new record low.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc bowled superbly in the second innings. He made a record by taking five wickets within his first 15 deliveries. No one has taken five wickets in so few balls at the start of a spell before. In total, he took six wickets for just nine runs in 7.3 overs.
Under the floodlights, some of Starc’s deliveries were almost unplayable. McDonald admitted that at times it didn’t even feel like cricket. This is why he questioned the use of the pink Duke ball in Test matches.
“Based on the pitch we played on, it’s very difficult to assess the batting departments of both teams. The third Test moved very quickly with the pink Duke ball. At times, it didn’t even feel like cricket. Some deliveries — especially those from Mitchell Starc under the lights — were almost impossible to play.”
Pace bowlers dominated the entire three-match series in the West Indies. In conditions tough for the batsmen, Australia whitewashed the hosts.
