Last year’s day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand was brilliant, a rare shining light in an otherwise dull summer of cricket.
Now, we could be spoilt for choice this upcoming season, with not one but two day-night Tests on the cards.
That is, if South Africa agree to play the Adelaide Test under lights.
A number of Proteas are reportedly worried about the preparation (or lack thereof) they would have with a pink ball prior to the proposed day-nighter. This despite assurances from Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland that the red carpet would be rolled out for the tourists to ensure an fair and even contest.
“Our players are not in favour of playing the game under those conditions,” said Tony Irish, head of the South African players’ association.
“The main reason is we feel disadvantaged. Not one of our players who will compete in that Test has played Test match cricket or any cricket with a pink ball.”
A lack of pink ball cricket stopped neither Australia nor New Zealand last summer. The result was the best match of the season.
While Proteas captain AB de Villiers has voiced his concerns over the day-night Test, his main spearhead, Dale Steyn, has come out in support of it.
“I don’t want to go through my whole career without playing a day-night game,” Steyn told cricket.com.au. “How cool are they? I thought it looked awesome when New Zealand and Australia played one.
“It looked entertaining, there was a big crowd.
“The ball is pink – it’s something different. You want to test your skills with that whole thing and it’s very exciting.”
As admirable as wanting to test one’s skills in different conditions is, the issue at hand is far larger.
Test cricket is in decline, there’s no two ways about it. This might not be particularly evident in Australia (although last year’s dreadfully empty Gabba might say otherwise), but the rest of the world over, the game’s oldest format is being usurped.
TV deals reign supreme in today’s sporting climate, and compared to long-winded Tests, which are played outside of prime-time hours, Twenty20 is a money-printing machine.
Day-night Tests have the potential to buck that trend. They offer the chance for bigger crowds, through kids and working adults alike heading to the match post-school or work. More importantly, by being played in prime-time, they offer much-increased TV ratings, and, as a result, more money to be put towards keeping Test cricket healthy.
Well, that’s the theory anyway.
If Test cricket is to remain healthy, it cannot afford to have sides opt out of day-night matches purely on the grounds of unfamiliarity, let alone the dominant side of the last few years.
Embracing the change won’t come easily – anything new takes some getting used to.
But such significant changes are often beneficial to whatever sport they occur in. Basketball used to be played without a three-point line. If the NBA had never introduced the arc in 1979, Steph Curry wouldn’t be wowing crowds as he is today.
Cricket itself has benefitted immensely from tweaks to the MCC’s rulebook. Remember that Bodyline thing? Few would argue cricket is poorer without Douglas Jardine’s infamously dangerous tactic.
Hell, overarm bowling was once illegal.
Compared to changing the legality of bowling styles, making day-night Tests more frequent is hardly a major change.
Yes, it will take time for players to adjust. It will take time for ball manufacturers to perfect their product.
But in the long run, it is a change that will only benefit cricket.
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