Basil
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Shaun Pollock, the former South Africa captain, has suggested that South Africa should play one of their Tests against New Zealand in August under lights to prepare for the proposed day-night Test in Australia in November.
Cricket Australia (CA) want the third Test of the series, in Adelaide, to be a day-night affair but Cricket South Africa (CSA) have expressed reservations as they are yet to experience playing with the pink ball.
While AB de Villiers, South Africa’s Test captain, said it was impossible for South Africa’s players to acclimatise during the match, Dale Steyn said they needed at least one first-class game to get used to the concept.
Australia have already played a day-night Test, against New Zealand last year and have also trialled the pink ball extensively in Sheffield Shield games, which gives them a perceived edge when it comes to taking on South Africa.
Pollock felt the solution would be to make the first game of the two-Test series against New Zealand, in Durban, a day-night encounter. “I fully understand their (CSA’s) point of view. You don’t want to give an advantage to Australia,” Pollock was quoted as saying by Lords.org on Saturday. “It’s always been such a keenly contested series and you can understand how South Africa want it to be an even battle.
“Maybe a solution for them would be in the Test series coming up against New Zealand in August. That could be a chance to play with the pink ball, and maybe the (first Test at Kingsmead) in Durban. There is a good chance there will be a light issue in that game because it comes at the back end of the South African winter and with the pink ball you wouldn’t have to take the players off for bad light. That might be a solution.”
Pollock drew parallels with the time when One-Day International cricket adopted the day-night concept and explained that the players’ opinions could change after experiencing it.
“When day-night cricket came along everyone was a bit concerned about playing with the white ball till late, under lights,” he pointed out. “But I think once you’ve done it and been exposed to it, you form a different opinion.
“I think it’s a case in point where everyone needs to experience it at least on one occasion and then they can have a better idea about what to expect and whether they feel if it can be successful or not.”
http://m.wisdenindia.com/full-story.php?category=News&id=208527
Cricket Australia (CA) want the third Test of the series, in Adelaide, to be a day-night affair but Cricket South Africa (CSA) have expressed reservations as they are yet to experience playing with the pink ball.
While AB de Villiers, South Africa’s Test captain, said it was impossible for South Africa’s players to acclimatise during the match, Dale Steyn said they needed at least one first-class game to get used to the concept.
Australia have already played a day-night Test, against New Zealand last year and have also trialled the pink ball extensively in Sheffield Shield games, which gives them a perceived edge when it comes to taking on South Africa.
Pollock felt the solution would be to make the first game of the two-Test series against New Zealand, in Durban, a day-night encounter. “I fully understand their (CSA’s) point of view. You don’t want to give an advantage to Australia,” Pollock was quoted as saying by Lords.org on Saturday. “It’s always been such a keenly contested series and you can understand how South Africa want it to be an even battle.
“Maybe a solution for them would be in the Test series coming up against New Zealand in August. That could be a chance to play with the pink ball, and maybe the (first Test at Kingsmead) in Durban. There is a good chance there will be a light issue in that game because it comes at the back end of the South African winter and with the pink ball you wouldn’t have to take the players off for bad light. That might be a solution.”
Pollock drew parallels with the time when One-Day International cricket adopted the day-night concept and explained that the players’ opinions could change after experiencing it.
“When day-night cricket came along everyone was a bit concerned about playing with the white ball till late, under lights,” he pointed out. “But I think once you’ve done it and been exposed to it, you form a different opinion.
“I think it’s a case in point where everyone needs to experience it at least on one occasion and then they can have a better idea about what to expect and whether they feel if it can be successful or not.”
http://m.wisdenindia.com/full-story.php?category=News&id=208527
