The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has proposed to the England and Wales Cricket Board to play a day-night Test after New Zealand turned down India's offer. The board is also believed to be in talks with Cricket Australia for the same when they tour India next year.
New Zealand played the first day-night Test against Australia and players could not find batting and fielding easy and the Australian team recorded a victory. The match was considered to be a huge success due to the large crowd it attracted and many countries are trying to replicate the success.
Playing under floodlights is an issue in Test matches and the New Zealand board were uncomfortable about the aspect of playing in Indian conditions.
"The New Zealand board is not willing to play day-night Test as they are not comfortable with the Indian conditions," a top BCCI official was quoted saying by the Indian Express on Monday (June 13) as they are not comfortable with the Indian conditions.
The source further added
Also read: Day-Night Test match in India: Are we jumping the gun too early?
Sourav Ganguly had brought up the idea of his home ground hosting the fixture. However, it's been shifted to Mumbai's Wankhede for now.
The BCCI is also unsure about the contest if the ball does retain its shine. Kookaburra is one such company that manufactures the pink ball and it will send some samples to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore where they will be tested, "If the shine remains then the ball will swing more but it will be of no help to spinners. There will no natural wear and tear, and will also impact the reverse swing. So it was decided to test it in NCA first", a BCCI source said.
The decision of Australia participating in a pink ball Test early next year hasn't been confirmed yet. The CA and BCCI have agreed on playing a pink ball four-day game during India A's tour of Australia in August. India A is slotted to play two four-day games and a tri-series which also includes South Africa.
Super League Final to be played with a pink ball
Retired Indian team captain Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) was at the forefront at the decision of hosting the final of the Super League as a pink ball match.
He felt that day-night test matches were the way forward for longest format of the game. He considered it to be a good experiment. "The Super League final under lights is an experiment with an eye to hosting day/night Tests in the near future. I think it would be a very good experience,” he said in an interview to the Indian Express.
