Jonny Bairstow says England squad are excited about day-night Test
Tuesday 15 August 2017 13:58, UK
England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow thinks playing with a pink ball this week could help the players in certain situations.
The stage is set for the first ever day-night Test in England and West Indies will be the opponents at Edgbaston on Thursday.
And a pink ball will be used because the traditional red one is hard to see at twilight while the white ball used in one-day cricket would clash with the clothing worn in Tests.
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Bairstow is not too concerned about the prospect of using a pink ball and told Sky Sports on Monday: "With a red ball it is not perfect to be quite honest.
"If you are stood at second slip, third slip, gully, point, fine leg, deep backward square, you are actually picking a maroon ball up out of a multi-coloured background, which is the crowd.
"You never know, coming out of a dark background, it might actually be easier to see a luminous pink ball than it would a gloomy red one."
The 27-year-old accepts there will be a period of adaptation though and added: "I am sure it will be a learning curve, for the batters and the bowlers - knowing how to bowl with the pink ball, knowing how to bat with the pink ball, whether or not we can get it swinging after a certain period of overs, while reverse swing could play a part as well.
"It is going to be different that's for sure, so it is going to be interesting to see how it plays out under lights, in practice tonight and then moving forward into a couple of day practices as well.
"Hopefully we will get a transition of the twilight period everyone is talking about, see the ball and how it reacts after maybe five-10 overs, comparatively to how it will react after 50 to 60 overs."
An enthralling spectacle is in prospect and Bairstow confirmed that the squad are looking forward to the match.
"We are pretty excited about seeing the whole East Stand packed to the rafters on a Friday and Saturday night," he said.
"That could be an interesting spectacle for anyone in Birmingham town centre afterwards!"
