Cricket has evolved drastically since the first Test match was played between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877.

From stumps to bats, the game referred to as that of a Gentlemen’s has seen radical changes. With the limited-overs formats, Test cricket had preserved the essence of the game.

However, as the first-class day-night affairs have started to dominate the domestic calendars all over the world that inborn substance continues to fizzle out.

After Cricket Australia, Pakistan will become the second board to host a day-night Test when the three-match Test series against the West Indies kicks off at Dubai International Cricket Stadium from Thursday.

With the pink-coloured cricket ball making its maiden Test appearance on the Asian soil, much is being anticipated about its behaviour.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who is almost certain to spearhead Pakistan’s spin-attack in the forthcoming series, told reporters on Monday that he was able to grip the ball better and extracted more bounce and spin from it.

The Kookaburra Turf Pink Ball was first developed in 2006 for a breast cancer awareness charity event, tells the company’s website.

The success of day-night Tests is just as dependent on conditions as it is on the ball.

Adding on the topic during an exclusive interview with Dawn, Kookaburra spokesperson Shannon Gill said:

“The ball was first produced by Kookaburra as novelty item for a charity event but in 2007 the Marylebone Cricket Club and the International Cricket Council approached Kookaburra and other ball manufacturers about different coloured balls to be used in first-class cricket.

“Kookaburra proved to be the only manufacturer capable of getting a ball near the standard at that time and this there was nearly a decade of research, development and trialling done.

“It was eventually decided after the initial challenge was thrown out that pink was the best colour to follow and to create the best pink ball has been our goal since.”

Read: Yasir Shah says pink ball gripping well

On contrary to the traditional red balls, a pink one is dyed pink initially and has a pink finish applied to it to make it visible under lights.

To protect the ball from deteriorating, it has “slightly more lacquer applied than what would be for a red ball”.

The spokesperson explains: “A light coloured ball is needed for visibility under lights but then the light coloured ball will be more affected by dirt, scuff marks and pitch and bat abrasions. This extra finish and lacquer aims to combat that issue.”

Pakistan had been experimenting with the different coloured balls in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy since the 2010-11. After the final of the last season many cricketers complaint the pink ball’s inability to sustain the allotted overs.

Read: Pakistan favourites in landmark day-night Test

To a question regarding the necessity of keeping grass on the wicket and the square heavier during the pink ball contests, Gill said:

“It needs to be understood that a pink ball [or a white ball] does not necessarily deteriorate quicker but the deterioration is more obvious on a lighter coloured ball, it’s more noticeable and affects visibility more.

“Just like a stain on a white shirt will be more noticeable than a black shirt.

“A more grassed wicket and lush outfield will mean the ball does not deteriorate as much and therefore remain more visible. In contract an abrasive wicket will mean the balls viability will be affected.

“The success of day-night Tests is just as dependent on conditions as it is on the ball.”

The ball we’re seeing in the Test between Pakistan and West Indies is the very latest incarnation of the pink ball.

The ball since its introduction in the competitive cricket has gone through improvements and updates. The combination of green and white seam used during the first-ever day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand did not fare well with the players.

“After the Adelaide Test some of the feedback from players was that the seam [green and white] was hard to pick up and didn’t offer as greater contrast as a white seam on a red ball.

“So we experimented and trialled a black seam on the pink ball and we’ve had very good feedback from it.

“Subsequently it has been used in first-class matches in Australia, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and has no longer been identified as an issue.”

But the evolution of the pink ball will not stop here.

“The ball we’re seeing in the Test [between Pakistan and West Indies] is the very latest incarnation of the pink ball but I don’t think it will be the final ball.

“Like any product we’re committed to constant improvement. There is constant technology updates and research and development occurring.”

Read: Pakistan play 400th Test in the day-night clash

But will the ball behave in the similar way as the traditional Test ball? Gill’s answer to this query will instil a ray of hope amongst the pacers.

“It will behave very similarly. As far as bounce goes it is made of the exact same components as a red ball. The only difference is that it has a pink finish applied to it.

“Some bowlers may find that extra finish assists with lateral movement at times, it other times it may not.

“So far in first-class matches we’ve seen days where ball has dominated, days where bat has dominated and days where honours were shared.”

Published in Dawn October 12th, 2016