"It creates the fairest contest" - Pat Cummins on red-ball vs. pink-ball debate
Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins believes red ball produces the fairest competition between bat and ball in Tests. He also opines that pink ball Tests are great events, but should only be played once or twice a year.
In the ongoing Test series against India, Pat Cummins and his team comfortably won the Adelaide game, a pink ball test. Australia's record in pink-ball games is terrific as they have won all eight of their day and night encounters.
Even though Australia have a 100% win record in day-night Test games, Pat Cummins believes red-ball cricket is here to stay. Speaking in a press conference, the fast bowler said:
"I still love Test cricket with the red ball as well. The games with the pink ball are great as in an event, like one or two Tests maybe in a year. But red-ball Test, yeah! that's not going anywhere. I think it creates the fairest contest between bat and ball. We had some great pink-ball Test matches, and I think the Adelaide Oval did a great job with the pitch they provided, but I still feel with the red ball you have the best contest."
Pat Cummins was more successful against India in the day-night Test in Adelaide as he picked seven wickets in that encounter. In the second Test, the Kolkata Knight Riders bowler could only manage three wickets.
Shane Warne disagrees with Pat Cummins
Shane Warne's recent opinion regarding the pink ball has brought in a raging debate in Test cricket. The Australian spinner believes that pink ball should be used for all Test matches, including day games. Warne feels the red ball goes soft too quickly, and as a result, the bowlers find it hard to get some purchase out of it.
"I believe the pink ball should be used in all Test matches. Day games, not just day-night games, I think the pink ball you can actually see the ball easier, crowd can see the ball easier. It generally does more than the red ball, and it looks fantastic on TV. So why not use a pink ball the whole time?"
However, Cummins is in the opposite camp as he feels pink ball Tests should happen only once or twice a year. Will ICC listen to Warne or continue to see pink-ball only in a handful of games in a year? Time will tell.