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Test cricket needs to be played past the twilight zone

Roar Rookie
3rd September, 2013
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First cricket Test between South Africa and Australia at the Gabba ground. AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD
Roar Rookie
3rd September, 2013
9

Excitement is starting to build at the start of the Sheffield Shield season (not really) at the fact there will be day night matches in Queensland, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Now yes that does help revive interest in the Shield competition but also, if it goes well, this could be the springboard for a day night Test match in the next two to three years.

There is still enough to be sorted out by then regarding what colour the ball will be (most likely pink), what effect the conditions will have and the timing of matches but that would be the least out of those three.

Apart from the Ashes, India v Pakistan and South Africa v Australia/England, all the other match-ups don’t seem to generate enough interest or excitement.

We know Test cricket is played over five days so usually days two, three and four are timed to happen over the weekend so it gives best chance of having a high attendance during peak times of the match.

Most of us wouldn’t be able to be ‘sick’ for all the days a Test is on weekdays, so to an extent this does have an impact on who can go or watch it on TV.

This has been the prime motivator for day/night Tests.

I think that the timing could work like this:

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First session begins 12:30pm.
Lunch 2:30pm.
Second session begins 3:10pm.
Tea 5:40pm.
Third session begins 6:00pm.
Stumps 8:00pm (8:30pm for slow over rate, which is likely to happen very often).

I have done it like this because of the chance to make up for lost time by starting half an hour earlier and finishing by 9pm in case of any rain delay, keeping in mind the original time for people travelling from the game.

This also means when ‘bad light’ comes around, there won’t be any ceasing the day’s play.

I’m sure this would likely increase the attendance from people going to the game after work as there would be more value and more kids would be able to attend after school.

For people at home they can sit down at dinner and watch the cricket and this also means it will be easier for other nations watching it in their time zones like India, South Africa, England and New Zealand.

Players have adapted well to playing one day cricket and T20 matches under floodlights, so while it will take a little bit of time to get used to the red ball coming in at 150km at 8pm, they will adjust.

It would be a great spectacle and it may give an advantage to the bowling side more at times on flat wickets.

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Of course not every match will be a day night Test but it would be great to experience it at least twice a season here in Australia.

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