Former Australia cricketer Mark Waugh, who has just recently resigned as national selector, has hit out at the Board of Control for Cricket in Indian (BCCI) for their reluctance to play a day-night Test during India’s tour of Australia, later this year.
Earlier, the BCCI had officially informed Cricket Australia that Virat Kohli and Co would not engage in any pink-ball Test during their tour Down Under. India are slated to play three Tests against Australia, starting from December 10.
“It’s a little bit selfish from India’s point of view because we need to revitalise Test cricket. Day-night Test cricket in some countries is going to be one of those ingredients that could transform Test cricket back to where it should be. So it’s really only Australia, India and England where Test cricket is alive and well. For me that’s a concern,” Mark said on on Wednesday.
“Their team is pretty well suited to day-night cricket, they’ve got a string of fast bowlers, so they don’t just rely on the spinners, and their batsman are technically very good as well. So for the greater good of the game, I would have loved to have seen that as a day-night Test,” he added.
CA wanted to continue with their recent tradition of playing the opening Test at Adelaide from December 6-10 under lights. The Indian team management headed by chief coach Ravi Shastri though had intimated the Committee of Administrators (CoA) that the team will take at least 18 months to prepare for the Day/Night Test.
