The pink ball has found another critic in Adam Voges, with the veteran batsman saying it looked 40 overs older than it should've during the Prime Minister's XI clash with New Zealand on Friday.
The match in Canberra, which the Black Caps comfortably won by 102 runs, was being used as somewhat a dress rehearsal for next month's inaugural day-night pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
While Trent Boult and Tim Southee managed to find some movement on the traditionally slow, flat pitch at Manuka Oval, players from both sides said the ball deteriorated quicker than they expected.
"To be honest, it didn't hold up very well tonight," said Voges, vying for a Test spot ahead of the series opener in Brisbane on November 5.
"Both balls got chewed up pretty quickly.
"There wasn't much pink left on it by the end of the game.
"The one that got hit on the roof and didn't come back was sort of 28 overs old and it looked like it was 68 overs old."
He said the ball stopped swinging after about 10 overs and, although not out fielding at night, reckoned its condition would've restricted visibility.
"It looked as though the lacquer had come off basically, and it was turning green," he added.
"There were bits of pink left, but there was probably more green than pink by the end.
"The older it gets, I can't see it being any easier to see."
The Kiwis had a couple of days to test the pink ball in Hamilton last week.
But opener Tom Latham, who finished on 131 after a 196-run opening stand with Martin Guptill (94), said he had a little bit of trouble judging the ball early and found it difficult to spot square on while fielding.
"The ball deteriorated a little bit more than what we've seen," he said.
"If we can keep that ball in good knick, then hopefully that'll be one of our weapons the reverse swing."
Australia's Test stars will be given an insight into what lies ahead when they play the opening round of the Sheffield Shield season, which starts on Wednesday.
It will be their only pink-ball match practice before the Test opener at the Gabba.
Cricket Australia remain confident the Test will be a success, having produced a million-dollar carrot to convince players on either side of the Tasman.
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