Following the interruption of Day 2 of the third Test between Australia and Pakistan due to bad light, former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested the use of pink-ball Tests to combat such issues. However, Australian opener Usman Khawaja has expressed strong reservations about this idea, stating that he would consider retiring if pink balls were to become the solution for bad light in Test cricket.
Khawaja, aged 37, emphasized the significance of red balls in Test matches, highlighting the crucial role played by sunlight in determining the course of the game. He mentioned that despite the growing impatience among spectators, the essence of Test cricket has remained largely unchanged over the past century.
In his statement to WA Today, Khawaja said, “If it is, I’m retiring. The red ball is so distinct. I’ve played white ball, I’ve played pink ball, I’ve played red ball. They all react so differently. Nothing reacts like that red ball. How they make it, the dye they put on it. The red ball is what we grew up playing with. The red ball is Test cricket, right? So unless you can find a way to replicate the sun, the lights aren’t the same.”
He expressed his appreciation for the traditional nature of Test cricket, noting that despite the challenges posed by rain or bad light, the sport’s essence lies in its unpredictability and the need to adapt to various conditions. Despite the setbacks, Khawaja remains optimistic about the ongoing Test match, hoping for a decisive outcome.
“The beauty of Test cricket and what I love about Test cricket is it really hasn’t changed a lot in the last 100 years. I think people maybe are just getting a little bit more impatient. It sucks, but that’s Test cricket, unfortunately. And when it rains or when you have bad light, you just have to cop it. You have five days of cricket to get a result. I still think there’ll be a result in this game,” Khawaja added.
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