India wants to host Australia for day-night Test: CA chief

The idea of Test cricket under lights has been gaining momentum with India planning to host New Zealand and Australia.

May 12, 2016 04:07 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 02:40 am IST - Melbourne

Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland has said that BCCI has approached them to play a day-night Test when the team from Down Under tours India early next year.

Sutherland’s revelation comes after the BCCI has already announced that the Indian team will play its first ever day-night game against New Zealand during the home series in October-November.

“I think there is certainly some positive signals coming out of India and other parts of the world (regarding day-night Tests),” Sutherland told Big Sports Breakfast radio.

“Indicatively they have started to talking to us about the prospect of playing a day-night Test match against Australia when Australia tours in February and March of next year. That is just a pretty strong indicator of where things are at.

“When you look at the big picture it is probably not surprising because day-night Test cricket is just a no-brainer really, giving more opportunities for fans to get along to the cricket and watch it on TV,” said CA boss further.

The idea of Test cricket under lights has been gaining momentum ever since the first ever day-night match was played between Australia and New Zealand last November.

However, there have been concerns over the use of pink balls and South Africa star batsman AB de Villiers too has expressed apprehension about playing a day-night Test when they tour Australia next year.

Earlier in the week, Australia captain Steve Smith said that the inaugural day-night Test was “an amazing spectacle” but there were areas of improvement.

“I thought if there was two millimetres less grass (on the pitch) it would’ve been a four-day game instead of a three-day game,” Smith said on Back Page Live.

“The ball still has got a few issues. You need to keep grass on the wicket to keep the ball together, which I don’t particularly like, but we are trying to work our way though that as much as possible to make sure we keep it going,” he added.

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