Pink was closest to the red, says Kookaburra chief by Bipin Dani

DateLine: 18th June 2016

 

Mumbai, June 18 : Pink color was the closest to the red cherry ball, according to Brett Elliott, the Group MD of the Kookabura ball.

 

12 Pink balls are being used in the First four-day Day/Night cricket match is being hosted in India.

 

Explaining the reason for deciding on pink, Brett Elliot, the Group MD : Kookaburra, says exclusively, "The Pink Turf is the closest match to the Turf Red Ball that we could achieve. It has exactly the same centre as the Turf Red Ball and Turf White Ball".

 

"The Australian leather is prepared in the exact same alum tan process. The difference starts with the dying. The leather is dyed pink instead of red. It then has extra colour added in the finishes which further enhances the brightness, finally a slightly stronger finishing coat like that used on the white turf is applied to help preserve the deterioration of the ball. To best describe the ball is that it sits somewhere in-between the Turf Red and the Turf White ball in term of performance and characteristics".

 

"The biggest challenges has been the moisture & due that occurs in the evening however we have made significant progress in this area".

 

:The extensive research,trials and developments lead to the ICC approving the way forward for countries to consider hosting a day night test using a Kookaburra Pink Ball. Australia and New Zealand have embraced this opportunity and are now working through a process of trials and preparation for such an event. The ball was successfully trailed in Australia's first class Sheffield Shield Cricket".

 

"All sports evolve, and if we look to the history books of cricket the game has successfully evolved over time and it's because of this that it remains open of the most popular sports in the world. The key is that we preserve the "spirit of cricket",he signed off.

 

Interestingly, Kookaburra developed the White ball for Kerry Packer for ODI cricket.

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2016 Bipin Dani)