# Bad light halts Durban Test, reignites pink ball debate

> South Africa's loss to Australia was marred by premature play stoppages due to poor visibility, prompting calls to use the pink ball in day Tests.
- Title: Bad light halts Durban Test, reignites pink ball debate
- Summary: South Africa's loss to Australia was marred by premature play stoppages due to poor visibility, prompting calls to use the pink ball in day Tests. Australia…
- Keywords: proteas, australia, test cricket, pink ball, kingsmead stadium, durban, shaun pollock, news, politics, Bad, light, halts
- Source: Daily Maverick — https://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-18-bad-light-in-the-first-proteas-aussies-test-reignites-the-pink-ball-debate
- Author: Yanga Sibembe
- Published: 2026-10-18T07:10:24+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: proteas, australia, test cricket, pink ball, kingsmead stadium, durban, shaun pollock, news, politics
## Australia wins opening Test
Australia defeated South Africa by two hundred fourteen runs in the opening match of their three-game series at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.
## Bad light stops play early
For the first three days at Kingsmead, play ended prematurely because of bad light. Only two hundred twenty-one of two hundred seventy allotted overs were completed.
## Fielder loses sight of ball
During Australia's second innings on day three, Ryan Rickelton lost sight of a ball hit by Nic Maddinson in the fading light. It flew over his head for six.
## Umpires end play after incident
After Rickelton indicated he had completely lost sight of the ball, umpires consulted their light meters and ended the day's play early.
## Pink ball debate resurfaces
The visibility problems prompted debate about whether South Africa and Australia should have used the pink ball instead of the traditional red ball.
## First day-night Test in 2015
Australia and New Zealand played the first international day-night Test in November two thousand fifteen using a pink ball. Australia won by three wickets.
## Pink ball visibility challenges
The pink ball's visibility is fine during late afternoon natural light, but the transition between dusk and full floodlights causes accelerated swing and reduced depth perception.
## ICC approves pink ball trials
The International Cricket Council recently approved a trial period allowing international Test teams to use the pink ball in day matches if both captains agree beforehand.
## Pollock backs pink ball use
South African legend Shaun Pollock said the two teams should have chosen the pink ball for the day game to ensure no overs would be lost to bad light.

> I just believe we should have used the pink ball for the day game. Because if you use the red one, all of a sudden you can't play Test cricket past bad-light time.
## Pollock on pink ball stigma
Pollock said a stigma exists around the pink ball, with concerns it gets soft. Using it would have allowed forty-five more overs of Test cricket in Durban.

> If Australia were one hundred twenty-four for six and got to three hundred ninety, everyone in South Africa would have said it was the pink ball's fault and that it got soft.
## Series continues in Gqeberha
South Africa faces Australia in the second Test starting Sunday, October eighteenth at St George's Oval in Gqeberha. The final Test is set for October twenty-seventh at Newlands.
## Proteas need victory to stay alive
To prevent the final Test becoming a dead rubber, South Africa must win in Gqeberha. Kagiso Rabada returns to lead the bowling unit after being rested in Durban.
## Key takeaway

Australia beat South Africa by two hundred fourteen runs in Durban as bad light forced early play stoppages on three days, reviving debate over using pink balls in traditional Tests.