"Pink ball's pace and visibility a challenge, need to get used to it": Pujara on D/N Tests

Cheteshwar Pujara scored a half-century in India's first-ever D/N Test last November.

By Kashish Chadha - 19 Jun, 2020

India's Test No.3 Cheteshwara Pujara explained the difficulties faced by batsmen in tackling the pink ball that offers sustained movement in the air and off the surface in Day-Night Test cricket. 

India played its first-ever D/N Test last November in Kolkata against Bangladesh. In a popular match that lasted just over two days, the visitors were blown away by an innings and 46 runs. But Pujara got a good look at the pink ball during his sedate half-century in the first innings. 

Read Also: Mitchell Starc excited over prospects of pink-ball D/N Test against India

"First of all, to speak about the day and night Test or (to play) with the pink ball, I think it is different from what we are used to with the red ball," he said on the Sony Ten's 'Pit Stop' show.

"Although it is still the same format, the (pink) ball's pace and visibility is very different. As a batsman, you need to get used to it."

Team India is due to face Australia in an away D/N Test fixture on its tour down under later this year and then take on England in another at home next February. The new format could become a regular feature of the Indian home Test calendar in the future. Hence, quick adjustment is key. 

"It won't be very easy, because you need to have such net sessions," said Pujara. "To do that at the domestic level, it is not easy. If any upcoming player is coming, he is used to playing with the SG red ball in Ranji Trophy, so when you play him for India, he is ready for this format. Pink ball needs adequate training."

"He is ready for a Test match. But when he comes to play with the pink ball, he will not have that much of an experience and that many net sessions also won't have happened, so I feel it will be a challenge for young player who is coming in and playing a pink-ball test."

"But, yes guys (players) who have already played with pink ball in some domestic tournament and who have played one of the pink-ball Test match, they will get used to it, but it is a different challenge altogether for a batsman," added the 32-year-old, who has played 77 Tests and scored 5,840 runs at an average of 48.7. 

In Australia, India's challenge will be to counter the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, especially during the twilight period, in hope to become the first visiting side to beat the Aussies in a D/N Test affair. 

"I think they (Australian) bowlers will get more pace and bounce off the pitch, from what I have realised so far with the pink ball," said Pujara. 

"Apart from this, the ball might swing more, but usually Kookaburra pink ball doesn't swing much, maybe the new ball might swing a bit, but once the ball gets old, it will be a good ball to bat against."

"Because be it the Kookaburra red ball or pink ball... and if you are playing in Australia, it is one of the best pitches to bat on," he added. 

(Inputs from PTI)

By Kashish Chadha - 19 Jun, 2020

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