David Warner wants pink ball improved for day-night Tests

Australia vice-captain David Warner has expressed his concerns over the pink ball used for day-night Tests.

Australian administrators regard the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last season as an outstanding success, attracting 123,000 spectators and an average television audience of two million.

But while Cricket Australia is keen to play day-night Tests against South Africa and Pakistan in their 2016/17 home season, they admit worries about the experimental format mean the match with the Proteas has not been confirmed. 

And Warner told The Australian: "The concept is fantastic and it is a great spectacle, but for those of us who play it, the most important thing is getting the ball right. 

"It's always going to be an issue because it is not a red ball. You can't shine it up like you do a red ball and Test cricket has always been about using the red ball properly when you're in the field.

"Looking after it to get swing is key and we can't do that with a pink ball because it will not shine up."

Warner, who played in the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last year, said batsmen and fielders struggled to see the pink ball at times.

"It's still hard to see during the twilight period," he said. "The guys on the side boundaries have trouble picking it up. You have to get that right.

"With the ball they used last year, there was no chance of seeing the seam. If you're a batsman, it is critical to be able to see the seam as it gets closer to you so you can work out which way it is going to swing - if it does."