Ashes Series Pink Ball Test: England has taken a big and clear decision regarding the Ashes series. The England team is now in no mood to play the Pink Ball Test in the upcoming Ashes series. England and Wales Cricket Board i.e. ECB has given this message directly to Cricket Australia. England believes that day-night Tests can damage the level of a prestigious series like the Ashes.

The reason was the crushing defeat in the last Ashes.

In the last 5-match Ashes series played in Australia, England had to face a humiliating 4-1 defeat. The second Test of this series was played in day-night format at The Gabba, Brisbane, where Australia defeated England in a one-sided manner. After this match, England’s stance regarding the pink ball became more strict.

Talks between ECB and Cricket Australia

According to the report of BBC Sport, after the end of the Ashes series, talks took place between senior officials of ECB and Cricket Australia. It was clearly revealed in this conversation that England will no longer accept any proposal to play day-night Test in the 2029-30 Ashes series. England’s focus is on preserving the quality of Test cricket and the historical identity of the Ashes.

Trying to save the charm of test cricket

ECB believes that Test cricket is already suffering from lack of spectators. If experiments are done even in a big series like the Ashes, it may further weaken the traditional attraction of Test cricket. England feels that day tests played with the red ball are the real identity of the Ashes.

Day-night match decided in the special test of 150 years

However, the Pink Ball Test will be played on a special occasion. The 150th anniversary of the first Test of the Ashes will be celebrated at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in March 2027. On this historic occasion it has already been decided that a day-night test will be played. This decision was finalized in August 2024 itself.

Benefit to the broadcaster, not the game?

Regarding the Pink Ball Test, it is also being said that the broadcaster benefits from it, but the game does not get much benefit. Former Australian cricketers have also agreed that red ball Tests are more balanced and exciting. The ICC (International Cricket Council) had approved the day-night test in 2015, but audience engagement did not increase as expected.

Australia’s dominance, but questions remain

Australia has played 14 out of the 25 day-night Tests played so far and has won almost all of them. Despite this, former England captain Joe Root had also raised the question whether the pink ball test is really needed in a series like the Ashes. England are now preparing to play more warm-up matches before the next Ashes.

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