Adam Voges questions pink ball suitability

Craig McMillan, the New Zealand batting coach, admitted the conditions were nothing like they expect during the Test series, but said there was still a few value in the match and in Friday’s 102-run win against the PM’s XI.

Senior Australian batsman Adam Voges said it did not hold up well in recent matches against New Zealand in Canberra. Australia and England are the only two places where people come to watch Tests, so we have to stimulate excitement and get people watching again.

The manufacturer of the pink ball to be used in next month’s first day-night Test match said on Monday its revolutionary innovation is up to scratch amid growing criticism.

If the problems with the ball persist, the ACA will ask for the test to be played as a traditional day fixture.

Waugh has been a long-time supporter of day-night Tests, saying the idea had been discussed during his eight years on the Marylebone Cricket Club’s World Cricket Committee.

Despite its record here – New Zealand has won just three Tests in this country, in Brisbane and Perth in 1985 and Hobart in 2011 – the tourists have an opportunity to take advantage of Australia’s post-Ashes rebuild. “I absolutely agree but we need to be real confident we’re not going to have someone cleaned up in the gully because they couldn’t pick it up”.

“There wasn’t much pink left on it by the end of the game”, said Voges.

Mitchell Johnson has warmed up with seven one-day wickets in two games for Western Australia including five for 31 against Queensland on Wednesday.

“To be trustworthy, it did not maintain up very nicely in any respect tonight”.

Voges added: “It looked as though the lacquer had come off basically and it was turning green”. New Zealand managed to steal a win against us the last time they played a Test here, at Bellerive Oval in 2011, but haven’t won a series in Australia since 1985.

“We called off a tour of Bangladesh at the very last minute, didn’t we?” he said.

“The pink ball is probably the most insignificant or the most subtle change that they’ve had to deal with, because in essence it’s just a replication of the red”.

Kookaburra managing director Brett Elliott suggested no cricket ball had gone through the level of testing and development that the pink ball has.

The pair also swapped tales from their playing days, Walters recalling the time he was late for the first Test against the West Indies in Jamaica in 1973 after a big night out.

“It was more about giving him a roll out and I think his rhythm looked as good as it did over in England”.