You are probably familiar with the pink-ball Test matches that are played in cricket. And at the same time, you might know that the teams would rather play with a pink ball than the usual red one.
But this pink-ball Test should not be mixed up with the yearly ‘Pink Test’ match taking place in Australia.
What Actually is The Pink Ball Test?
At the beginning of every year, Australia organizes a Test match in Sydney. Because the Test, located at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), takes place a few days after the New Year, people usually refer to it as the New Year Test.
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Very interestingly, it is also the Pink Test at the same time. How is that? To make people more aware and to collect money for breast cancer treatment.
But what is the connection between the color pink and breast cancer?
Pink indicates the care and support for breast cancer. As the SCG Test is focused on raising awareness and collecting funds for breast cancer, it is marked as the Pink Test.
Besides, the Australian team will be wearing the pink hats instead of the traditional green ones. Furthermore, the players from the other team will also be wearing pink on their shirts.
On top of that, the entire stadium will be covered in pink and so will the fans who come to watch. The whole SCG will be a huge pink ocean during the Test!
But what’s the story behind organizing the Pink Ball Test?
Glenn McGrath, the former Australian fast bowler, is the first one to draw up the plan of the Pink Test. His charity, the McGrath Foundation, works together with Cricket Australia (CA) to name the SCG Test as the Pink Test. The charity helps the patients and the families of patients suffering from breast cancer.
Glenn’s wife, Jane McGrath, who passed away, was a breast cancer patient. Long before the treatment of Jane and Glenn, they had the idea of starting the McGrath Foundation.
Mainly, the purpose of the McGrath Foundation was to take over the medical expenses of a breast care nurse for the patients suffering from breast cancer and to support them for free.
In 2008, when Jane died he to pitch the idea of the Pink Test to CA. Since then the cooperation between the McGrath Foundation and CA has resulted in the organization of the Pink Test, where the funds raised have been directed toward breast care support.
They also pay tribute to Jane for the awareness she brought to the subject of breast cancer and the support given to the patients. The Ladies Stand (Jane McGrath Stand) at the SCG and the third day (Jane McGrath Day) of the Pink Test are named in her honor.
The foundation has decided to help cancer patients of all types by raising money and providing support starting in 2025.
Cricket South Africa has also introduced a ‘Pink Day’ initiative along the same lines, while the IPL team Gujarat Titans wears lavender jerseys.
