New Zealand’s top players are overwhelmingly against plans to play “day-night” Test cricket when they tour Australia this year, fearing it will “devalue” the game.
The concept of day-night cricket played under lights using a pink ball has been enthusiastically promoted by Cricket Australia (CA), which is keen to bring the five-day game to prime-time television audiences.
CA trialled day-night first class cricket in the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield season with a view to staging the first ever Test under lights when New Zealand tour Australia in November.
But NZ players’ association chief executive Heath Mills said the Blacks Caps were sceptical.
“We were asked by New Zealand Cricket to get the thoughts of the players a few months ago,” he said.
“The results were overwhelmingly not supportive of playing day-night Test cricket.”
New Zealand are set to play three Tests in Australia, with Adelaide regarded as the front-runner to host a day-nighter.
Mills said New Zealand cricketers viewed a Test series against Australia as “the pinnacle” and wanted it played under traditional rules.
“It’s sort of our Ashes series, we don’t play Australia often (the last Test series between the teams was 2011/12), so it’s a rare chance to go up against them,” he said.
“For some of these players, it’s going to be the most important Test series of their careers. They don’t want anything that could be seen to devalue it.
“To play it under lights, with a pink ball, in conditions they’re not familiar with, makes it feel like a bit of an exhibition, as opposed to part of a very intense Test series.”
Mills said they had also received negative feedback from Australian players about the pink ball, an innovation designed to make it more visible than the traditional red ball.
But he added that if Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket decided to proceed with the match then the players would participate, despite their reservations.
Cricket Australia said it was pushing ahead with the day-night Test plans.
“CA and NZ Cricket are serious about pushing ahead with the concept of day-night Test cricket,” a CA spokesman said.
“We feel it will only strengthen the position and possibilities for Test cricket in many parts of the world.
“The challenge is to try to make Test cricket more accessible for fans.”
The Bush
Roar Guru
I agree, this is incredibly short sighted by NZD if they don't want to, literally, play ball with us. I am not sure if I entirely agree with your four day thing though sheek. Part of the point of Day-Night Test cricket is that it will be less relevant what days it is held on, as more fans can watch and attend during the week due to the timing.
Sylvester
Guest
How about Australia play one of their seemingly endless Ashes series matches under lights and let NZ have a fair crack at a test series not turned into a gimmicky sideshow?
Pankaj Singh
Roar Rookie
I think having day/night test matches is something inevitable which is bound to happen someday. Consider a few points - 1. Importance of commercialization. In the end the more fans we have, the more opportunities the game provides - profession and passion, the more it is good for the game. I think commercialization of the game is a much needed thing which might not be the most wanted by many 2. Consider cricket as an entertainment in the sports genre. It needs to compete with many other genres. 3. If cricket is a brand and ODI/t20/Test matches are in natural extensions, the extensions need to adapt to what the consumer wants 4. The game also needs to change as do our lifestyles. The way people (read fans) used to live say 20 years ago and the way they live today has change dramatically. The role of digitization, changing media patterns, the fact that 24 hours are also less for a modern generation guy (not much time for entertainment huh!), increase in the games reach making the rural consumers as important as the urban consumers are some of the lifestyle changes that the game also need to adapt. And well as they say, change is the only constant thing in the universe. So, lets go with the flow. Cheers!
Quitwhinging
Guest
Oh boo hoo, the same was said about ODI's stop living in the stone aga
Timmuh
Roar Guru
It is far too early for day/night Tests in my opinion. It shoukd be trialled in non-competition games (e.g. "A" team tour games and the like) until it seems to work. Then it can be incorprated into FC competitions, and only after that to Test cricket. Test cricket is too important to upset through making a hasty decision at the call of a TV network. And, make no mistake, this hurry is being driven solely by Nine. I think it can be a good thing once the issues are sorted. The ball is still not well received by players. Once a ball is actually capable of being used then at certain venues it could be valuable. At venues prone to significant dew there is no place for a day/night Test. And that is the part that concerns me more after a ball is ready, administrators may well force every venue to host day/night games whether suitable or not. In Australia, probably every venue is suitable. In other parts of the world that is certainly not the case. There are also questions regarding fans from rural areas who travel. Will getting back home at 1 or 2 in the morning be a good thing? Or do we write those people's attendance off because of the additional revenue, and somebody else is likely to buy those tickets anyway. Outside the major capitals a day game can be far more accessible than a day/night game. Not for everyone, but for some.
sheek
Roar Guru
I'm disappointed about this. Day/night test cricket is in my humble opinion, a potential saviour of test cricket. I would move from 5 x 6 hour days (30 hours max) to 4 x 7 hour day/nights (28 hours max). A net loss of only two hours, but one day less. Play tests Fri-Mon. On weekends, fits family lifestyle so well. After morning chores, shopping, sport, surf, etc, family can head off to cricket starting early arvo. Workers can arrive for middle session after work Friday & Monday. Day/night test cricket is definitely better suited for modern lifestyles. Day/night supertests worked well in WSC way back in 1978/79, so the idea is neither new nor revolutionary. In fact, it's old hat. The problem remains the colour of the ball. Back in 1978/79 a white ball (I think, gee, it's so long ago now) was used which quickly became discoloured. Day/night test cricket is the future. They just have to hurry up & find the right coloured ball. I actually think pink is the go. On another note, the idea of 7 hour days is also not knew. English county cricket & SA domestic cricket both used to play 3 x 7 hour day matches long ago.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I'm kind of against the whole day-night Test cricket thing in general. Day-nighters for limited overs are alright, but when it comes to Tests, there's something so epic about the teams walking off in the setting sun, something so refreshing about watching them come out the next morning. The Test format is honest cricket in it's purest form, and I don't think they should change a thing. The pink ball under lights, it just reduces it to some sort of gimmicky exhibition. "Look how modern we are! Look how much the game is improving!" The game will be losing something if they go through with it.
Bobbo7
Guest
I know. NZ is half decent for once and no doubt they'll be scheduled to play the Ballarat seconds ground and Dubbo I would love to see NZ play a Test at the MCG
Targa
Guest
Give us 4 or 5 tests and let the boys play at the SCG or MCG.
Quitwhinging
Guest
But playing which damages the game as a whole is OK?