Brendon McCullum believes Day-night Tests are here to stay

McCullum has his say on the future of Tests

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum believes that Day-Night Tests are “here to stay”, reports ESPN Cricinfo. Speaking after the third Test of the Trans-Tasman trophy, which Australia won by three wickets, McCullum has put to rest any fears about the future of Day-Night Tests.

After the conclusion of ‘the first of its kind’ Test match between Australia and New Zealand, at the Adelaide Oval on November 29, albeit in three days, both the competing captains, Steve Smith and Brendon McCullum had a more than positive outlook towards the prospects of Cricket’s newest brainchild.

A humungous attendance of 123,736 meant that the crowd had already stamped its authority on the concept. That along with a strong television audience that had made it a win-win situation for the both, the administrators and the broadcasters.

But the pertinent question lurking in the minds of many was whether the actual play would live up to its hype. The game lived up, and lived up handsomely as McCullum as well as his opposite number thought that it was indeed a great concept.

McCullum said, “As pink ball cricket evolves as I am sure it will grow into a global game and I think we will see the pitches probably won’t have quite as much grass on it. The thing about day-night Test cricket is it is meant to allow Test match cricket to be played at night time, it is not meant to be to change how Test cricket should play.”

A distinctive feature of McCullum’s comment was the fact that he believed that day-night Test cricket was only about allowing test-cricket to be played at night, and not about changing the way Test cricket is played- a comprehensive departure from the prime argument that its opposers have.

He, however, had certain reservations against the grass that had been left on the pitch, as he said, “There was a fraction too much grass on it, I think we saw under lights that the pink ball probably responded a little bit much, but I would say that because I am a batter.

Overall it was a roaring success and 120,000 people over three days, people are voting with their feet and I think it's here to stay, which is great.”

These comments were backed up by the Australia captain Steven Smith as well, as he too mentioned the grass covering for the pink ball, but also mentioned that he was delighted with result, especially after his side pulling got through a close encounter.