Cricket: Black Caps positive after initial test of pink ball

Black Caps wicketkeeper BJ Watling. Photo/Getty.

Black Caps wicketkeeper BJ Watling is keen to learn more about the new pink ball when they test it in match conditions at Seddon Park over the next two days.

Following last night's training session, Watling spoke positively about the team's initial impressions of the pink Kookaburra ball, which they will use in the inaugural day-night test against Australia in Adelaide on November 27.

The side were put through their paces with the new ball, working under lights to examine how it comes out of the night sky and assessing the degree of movement through the air and off the bounce.

"The boys were pretty fizzed tonight. They were excited to get out here at 8.30pm which is a new time to train for us so it was very exciting and the boys are looking forward to quite a big occasion in Adelaide," said Watling.

"It was very bright. You could see the ball quite easily. It's just going to take a bit of getting used to catching it from the black sky and trying to get used to seeing it from a white sight screen.

"It felt pretty similar to what a white ball does in a black sky. You sort of lose a depth of perception, especially tonight.

"So a little bit to get used to, but I'll find out a lot more tomorrow during the game and during the different phases of the day."

The Black Caps bowlers will have their first use of the ball today when their 15-man side plays a non-competitive match against a composite selection that includes fringe players.

While the Adelaide test is still seven weeks away, Watling said it was useful to have some time with the ball, although conditions in Australia would be vastly different to Hamilton's cool October climate.

"It's good to get it underway now so we can start thinking about what we might be presented with, so it's good to get an idea of it early on and we've obviously got a couple more games in Australia to practice again with the pink ball," he said.

"It did look like it sort of swung a bit, a little bit of wobble, but again I think Adelaide will be a different temperature so I don't know how much it will affect it. Its six degrees in Hamilton, it's fresh but it's going to be different again in Adelaide.

"There will be a few factors that we'll have to take into consideration but we're still reasonably upbeat about it and it's a new challenge and something exciting for the boys to look forward to."