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New pink cricket ball ‘makes the game boring’

Victoria allrounder John Hastings has claimed the new day-night pink ball makes for “boring” cricket.

Hastings, who scored two wickets in Wednesday night’s Sheffield Shield match against Queensland, said the ball was unthreatening because it was too soft and stopped swinging too soon.

“The main issue for me is the hardness of the ball. It just doesn’t stack up compared to the red ball,” he said after the match.

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“It’s tough work. All you got to do is set straight fields. It’s quite a boring brand of cricket when you do have that pink ball.

“Maybe if we change the ball at around 50 or 55 overs and get a new one or a semi-new one, it might be a better contest.”

The state competition is the final test-period for the new ball before it debuts on the world stage in the historic day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand on November 27.

At the end of play on Wednesday night, Queensland was 4-298 against Victoria. NSW declared for 262, with South Australia 3-3. WA reached 6-259 against Tasmania in Hobart.

The pink ball on trial in Adelaide in 2010. Photo: AAP

The pink ball on trial in Adelaide in 2010. Photo: AAP

The Kookaburra-made ball has the backing of Cricket Australia, but has been criticised by players for premature wear and visibility problems.

Hastings added that reverse-swing was possible, but far less effective than usual.

“When you get a red ball to go reverse, it’s actually quite hard and it can zip off the wicket,” he said.

“With the pink ball if you get it to go reverse — we didn’t really have that zip.”

Victoria captain Matthew Wade wanted the ball changed in the 74th over on Wednesday, but the umpires turned him down.

“Some of the fielders square of the wicket couldn’t really see it that well,” Hastings said of the request.

“I don’t know whether they’ve had a directive not to change the ball.”

Hastings added he felt okay at mid-on, but “it could well be” a safety issue for others.

Queensland opener Scott Henry, who scored 141, was more supportive of the new ball.

“The seam was difficult at stages, only because the ball was old. I think that’d happen if it was white or red,” Henry said.

“It was fine.”

Michael Klinger, who will resume on 129 for WA in Hobart, suggested it took 15 or 20 minutes to get used to the pink ball at night.

“Once you bat for that period of time you pick it up pretty well.”

The three matches resume from 2pm (AEDT) on Thursday.

-Jackson Stiles, Rose Donohoe and AAP

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