ACA concerned by day-night Tests

Cricket

A statement from Cricket Australia (CA) earlier this week confirmed that they and New Zealand Cricket had "progressed plans" to stage day-night tests, potentially as early as 2015. 

Such a fixture would likely take place on New Zealand's tour of Australia in November next year, with the development of a suitable pink ball key to ensuring the plans take place.

Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland said ensuring the pink ball behaved like the traditional red one was "vital for the success of this initiative" but the ACA claim many players have doubts over the likelihood of this happening. 

Following trials in the Sheffield Shield last season, ACA chief executive Paul Marsh said only 11 per cent of players rated it a success while only a quarter agreed it provided a fair contest between bat and ball. 

As a result, Marsh believes an "overwhelming majority" of players remain unconvinced by the ball and called on the aforementioned organisations not to become fixated on potential commercial gains. 

"The overwhelming majority of players believe the pink Kookaburra ball isn't yet ready for Test cricket," Marsh said in a statement on the ACA's official website.

"They've told us that it went soft very quickly, didn't swing, didn't seam and didn't reverse swing. As such it is a ball that is very difficult to get batsmen out with, but also difficult to score runs against because it gets soft quickly. 

"We believe there needs to be further trials and a significant improvement in the suitability of the ball before day/night Tests are introduced.

"They can't be ushered in purely because it’s a 'sexy' concept that might deliver a bit more money or because there's a lure to be 'the first', or because a certain time has elapsed since it was first mooted. No, the introduction should only occur if and when the ball is of a standard demanded by the highest level of cricket.

"We have commended CA on the way the trials have been handled so far and the players have shown a willingness to continue to trial different ball options until a solution is found.

"But the views they have expressed on the current pink ball have been strong, and must be respected. After all, there's little point in trying to tap into new audiences if the product becomes inferior because of the 'tools' they're forced to use."

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