The prospect of day/night cricket is upon us, with chatter of a proposed first Test between Australia and New Zealand in the not-too-distant future. The idea leaves me a little cold.
I have complained loudly when play has been called off for bad light.
“Get with the times and turn the bloody lights on,” I would mutter from my couch as the two umpires conferred over the readings from their little gadget and decided to ruin my afternoon.
But now it is a reality I just can’t warm to it.
Sure, it has its perceived advantages. Three of the five days traditionally fall on working days, so a day/night Test gives us the chance to see more of the match either live or on the box – although this would stretch marital relations, as I am sure this would conflict with the latest ‘must see’ drama.
It would also provide the added bonus of not affecting one’s professional career, as time would not be spent sitting at your workplace staring at cricinfo, awaiting the latest score update, rather than the excel or word document one should be analysing.
But what about attending the match live? As a father with a young family, I am not sure this is workable.
It is great to have the kids out during the day at the cricket, but at night as well, let alone over five days and on school nights?
I asked Roar Expert Brett McKay over twitter for his thoughts on the matter. He wasn’t opposed to the idea, but held major reservations regarding the pink ball.
On the Cheap Seats Podcast, which Brett co-hosts with Ryan O’Connell, Brett’s expanded on those concerns, saying he found it incredibly difficult to pick up the pink ball while watching on TV.
Bit of a problem given broadcasting is the major reason behind the initiative. Ryan mentioned that the NHL in the USA introduced some sort of shading technology, which allows the puck to be seen for viewers, so perhaps not an insurmountable problem.
But what about the batsmen and fielders? Can they pick it up?
Brett followed up with a comment made by Dean Jones that he has faced all sorts of coloured balls under lights and he was adamant that none were as easy to pick up as the white ball. Brett suggested perhaps the teams could wear darkened pads, making the white ball the best way forward.
Night Test cricket with a pink ball no one can see, or with a white ball and coloured pads? I don’t like the sound of any of that.
It is going to happen, and I will undoubtedly fall into line and enjoy it, because it is still Test cricket. Who knows, it may turn out to be the best thing since sliced bread.
What do you think Roarers? Do I need to follow my own advice and get with the times, or do you perhaps share my concerns?
Also, just quickly, if you have not seen Trent Boult’s boundary catch from the recently completed second T20 match between the West Indies and New Zealand, look it up and let me know if you have ever seen one.
I haven’t. A must see!
felix
Guest
Interesting idea,I had no idea Kiwi's were familiar with hard balls especially rugby fanatics ;-)
Glenn Innes
Guest
I really don't think it will matter one way or the other if they play day night tests or not.Test cricket is in the hospice the Ashes is just a dose of morphine that takes the pain away for a couple of months and blinds everyone to the fact that outside Australia and England nobody is interested in it i LOVE TEST CRICKET..but lets be objective South Africa were ranked number one test team in the world and were playing a home series against a resurgent Australia for the defacto no1 test nation status and the matches drew dog racing crowds.I think they got 13000 one day and that was by far the biggest crowd of the series.Places like New Zealand are even worse and playing into the evening ain't gonna save it.
Mark Ferguson
Roar Rookie
I can't see why they can't use a white ball for the day/night test, just have the ball change a bit earlier.
Mark Ferguson
Roar Rookie
When they go to news they do, it's a bloody disgrace they just plonk it on 9 it should be moved to gem permanently.
Bakkies
Guest
The MCC while the custodians of the laws of the game, the ICC has their own playing regulations that allow amendments to suit certain matches so they are pretty influential.
josh
Roar Rookie
They do switch to GEM.
Davros
Guest
what jonno said...just stop messing with the very fabric and tradition of the game in search of the almighty dollar....its very obvious the players don't want a bar of it ...but the suits at CA are hell bent on ramming it down everyones throats
Bakkies
Guest
And doesn't host an annual test. The biggest issue is Brisbane with no dst. The lights would have to be on for around 4 hours.
JGK
Roar Guru
I will probably watch less Test cricket if it is day night because I have young kids who take ages to put to bed. If it's on during the day at least I can have it on in the backkground at work.
Bakkies
Guest
Josh you do realise it gets dark at 10:30 pm in Europe.
Bakkies
Guest
Johnno, stop the load of nonsense. - Middlesex who play at the home of Cricket wear pink in one day cricket with the Panthers nick and women are more accepted. The MCC does move with the times. - The ICC has been based in Dubai not Lords for some time. - Australia has an ageing population. Baby boomers created coloured clothed cricket, will either be dead or in zimmer frames in 20 years time so it will be up to the youth who in the future will keep the game alive. - International cricket may subsidise state cricket a shortened test in front of empty stands against a weaker opponent affects the coffers. 50 over crowds are down even in Melbourne. Cricket Associations like the WACA are struggling financially and they will miss out on a test. To keep test cricket they will have to find the funds to redevelop their ground. SA have sold their soul to the AFL and turned their attractive cricket ground in to a souless baseball style stadium. The reason why is they get more income. The SCG is heading that way the redeveloped stands. Bellerive and the WACA are the only test grounds now in Australia that have real character with hills and you can walk around in. - The Shield is beloved but in reality it's played in front of empty seats (and domestic 50 overs is played in front of slight larger crowds) to keep both going and maintain club/school comps to develop future players T20 and extra income from internationals is valuable. The games has already changed and its main bankroller tv may be a lot different going forward so it has to boost revenue streams going forward.
Bakkies
Guest
5am Aussie time? Are you ok? When it's Summer in oz the time difference is 11 hours. That's why eastern states tests start at 12am in the UK which is no good really. The day's play finishes around 8am GMT.
Bakkies
Guest
9 still don't have a red button service or switch it over to GEM? That's what the BBC do with Wimbledon. Common sense really.
Bakkies
Guest
You could play red ball tests up to 8:30 (3.5 hours after work for those who finish at 5 is ideal) with reasonable conditions in England due to the superior Summer light there than compared to Australia where certain states choose to stay in the dark ages with no dst. Even the ones that do have it gets really dark at 8 so full lights and different colour ball is needed. During Aus Ashes series some of the day's play will be live when viewers are awake which will please sky.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Ah yes - as mentioned here! http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/07/08/cheap-seats-episode-44-quick-dirty/
Andrew Kennard
Roar Pro
Why not? What would be the problem of just using a red ball during the day and a white ball at night? As long as it is the same for both teams... The first test match they covered the pitch was different, but if it is the same for both teams so what. I understand that it would lose some continuity having the red ball maybe reverse swinging at the 60th over to be replaced by essentially a new ball for the last session. But I remember reading during the invincibles tour they replaced the ball every 55 overs or 200 runs, whichever came first. Given the struggles they are having with the pink ball, what would be wrong with the white ball being used at night? Maybe they could restore it to the eight layers of lacquer they had on the ball for the first one dayers (it was subsequently toned down as it swung too much if I recall correctly).
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Lens flare - get J.J. Abrams to direct!
josh
Roar Rookie
Maybe they could do what fox did in the US with Ice Hockey (that everyone hated) and but a digital halo around the ball, so the at home viewers know where the ball is. And when it is hit it could have a bit of a comet's tail effect... And maybe add some lens flare when it hits the wickets...
Riccardo
Guest
Hi Digger. I'm in your camp; not a big fan. Not sure this step is necessary but anything that garners more attention for the format has to be positive. I feel it is actually the 50/50 format that is in real danger and I have no idea how it might be saved frankly other than an amalgamation between it and T20, maybe to T30, perhaps? Test Cricket remains the pinnacle of the sport in spite of the growth in popularity of the shorter format, mainly through tournaments that are cesspits for corrupt governance, and I can't see the major nations diminishing that product, in spite of how quickly they have gotten into bed with the BCCI. With the advent of T20, more so that ODIs we are seeing more results in Test Cricket, often well inside the 5 days, which has to be healthy for the game. Higher run rates, a bit more agricultural with the blade seem to have impacted positively. Perhaps more tweaks within the existing format may tyune it up a bit but being the absolute opposite of the shorter game could be the thing that may protect it.
Riccardo
Guest
"they are asking all spectators to turn on their headlights to light up the ground." Yep, we might even move some of the sheep off the strip for ya mate. And Trev's caravan sells the bust Fush and chups mate.