Mark Waugh claims India is holding Test cricket back

BCCI is always lethargic to accept new concept in Cricket, look how much they have delayed to accept DRS as Tendulkar and Dhoni were against it. Now Shastri (coach) and Kohli (captain) are reluctant to start playing Day/Night Test against a strong team like Australia before playing the same against a weaker side. They do not want to start a 4 Tests Series with a certain defeat.

That surely is a moot point as Australia is embracing the concept!

I am tired and sick of people commenting on India and holding them accountable for all evils in cricket.Oh come on say something new folks.Lets not forget the fact that no wonder how much mud slinging you do against the Indians they will do what they think suits them right.

The whole rationale for day night tests, is financial based. Leave that aside, and none of the other key aspects that differentiate test cricket from the other forms are fulfilled in day night tests. Conditions best for visibility, conditions players are most accustomed to, balls that are suitable for 80 overs etc. There is little point not being able to watch the best batsman in action, because the conditions prevent them from seeing the ball well. The conditions are so different, that I would suspect most countries would have a separate team for the day night test form, than for the day test. I would argue that where test cricket is concerned, there is no need for the key driver to be financial, instead pure exhibition of gritty cricket excellence should prevail. It is considered the ultimate test. When looking at cricket as a whole, the white ball cricket fulfils the high excitement and financial objectives, and there is no need to look at each form in isolation. Day night test is a sub-standard thought bubble with no clear winning drivers. The change I would like to see is, specialised batting and fielding teams for T20 (i.e. batting 11 could be different to fielding 11).

The only people to benefit from this manufactured controversy are the CA. Piques interest in a series that, in the absence of marquee Australian players, should be fairly one sided. Gets people talking about cricket in the off season. Ensure viewership and ticket sales plus material for talking heads. What’s not to like about this?

I am yet to be sold on day/night Tests . The conditions become too much of a factor and influence . Competitive and varied Test cricket is the only answer . This has been thrashed about here so often but preparing roads as pitches under the misguided belief that cricket fans want to see boundaries every odd ball is misguided and a bit insulting . This is far more damaging to Test cricket than playing during the day. The cancellation of The Bangladesh Tour is short sighted . World cricket needs more variety not less. Ireland just proved to us all that with a bit of leg up they can meet the necessary standards . Zimbabwe who have probably the most potential of all 2nd tier teams are struggling to get big teams to play them ( except South Africa) and it does not seem to have done The Proteas any harm at all . India , England and Australia need to see that playing these developing sides is a future investment in the game. In business it is called foresight .

im with the indians ...there is no need for night test cricket ..its a sutherland thought bubble ...the players will tell you they cant see the ball . Sound like waugh has drunk the cool aid . Wonder if he would be so keen if he were still playing facing mitch starc under lights ?

Mark Waugh's comments don't make a lot of sense if they're aimed at the recent decision not to play a day/nighter in Adelaide. This is going to be the first Test of the series where the top ranked team plays the third ranked team, so people in SA will turn up regardless it's a day game. He also states Test cricket's alive and well in Oz, so what's the problem? Sure a few more might have turned up, but the real money's made from the TV rights and this is the only thing CA cares about. I also wonder how badly India's holding back Test cricket when there's only been a handful of these games played under lights so far. It'd be a different issue altogether if 50 or 60 Tests had been played under lights and India was the last man standing. Even if Waugh's comments are right, the events in SA followed by the stupidity in cancelling the Bangladesh tour, makes it impossible to criticize others. Nice going, Cricket Australia

Exactly, no room to be arrogant, despite how frustrating India's defiance on this has been. Australia seem to dictate terms that suit them too, so I guess it's more and more the norm for the more powerful test nations; the good of the sport and the competing teams is secondary to commercial aspects.

we should look at playing Zims/Ireland/Afghanistan to in Tests, oh and expand the ODI world cup, the associate world cup qualifiers in Zims was very refreshing and some awesome talent out there, Rovman Powell's(west indies) century vs Ireland was awesome..

It is ok, we made lots of money. Even if the network we signed up with seems so incompetent that they forgot they are still broadcasting the Tennis this year so they will struggle to show both sports, if you believe reports or if you think that every one is still unaware that there are more than one channel for 7 to use.

It's a bit bloody hard to take the moral high ground after cancelling against Bangladesh isn't it?

True, that - most likely not. But would Australia be embracing the concept if it were introduced by Sri Lanka (for example)?

Hi Ronan, See link https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017–18_Duleep_Trophy India do seem to be trying day night first class matches though admittedly not at the highest levels

I don't think India have even played any day-night matches in their domestic first-class comp yet so you'd imagine they won't be playing any day-night Tests soon, they'll want to trial it domestically first. I do think day-night Tests are crucial to the future of the format, it is better for audiences both at home and at the ground, and so far it's also fostered more interesting cricket.

Is it not suspicious that someone who had a major issue falling asleep during test matches, then was at the horses or the trots or whatever instead of watching his brother suddenly comes up with this. Now that Lehman has damaged credibility it seems the Mark Taylor/ Sutherland axis is now getting back at India through a new mouthpiece.

Had India introduced day/night tests, would they be knocking it back?

Good point Chris. While not relevant to this specific issue of Day/Night Tests, it is important to note that far too often we have been too quick to call other out on their mistakes and set ourselves up on our high horses. We have been quick to throw stones while living in our glass houses. In this regard, it is also helpful to note the behavior of players of other teams when Australia faced its ball tampering scandal: Ben Stokes: While several Australian players including Steve Smith were quick to comment when Ben Stokes was being charges for assault, he said nothing when the same Australian players were suffering their fall from grace Virat Kohli: The supposed mortal enemy of Steve Smith refused to comment on the scandal despite being specifically asked Faf du Plessis: After being skewered by Australian media for ball tampering, his comments while Australia were suffering their own scandal were supportive While I am not claiming that the above players or others are some paragons of virtue, they had sufficient sense not to get on their high horse to kick somebody when they were down. So the next time our players, administrators or ex-players flog somebody else for their mistakes, they need to remember this occasion when we have claimed that everybody makes mistakes and deserves forgiveness.

To be fair to India, they have tried Day/Night first class matches in domestic competitions with poor results and this probably accounts for some of their misgivings. They have doubts about the ability to sight the pink ball under lights as well as the quality of the Kookaburra balls under dew conditions. While the intention to avoid giving Australia any advantage in the Test series most likely weighs on their mind while making the decision, their reasons (excuses) are not frivolous. In contrast, CA's main motivation in pushing for Day/Night Test matches is commercial.

Yet another hypocritical comment by someone in the Cricket Australia ranks. India not agreeing to a day/night test is "selfish" but apparently CA cancelling the series against Bangladesh is not?? I, too,am disappointed that India aren't playing a day/night test, but only because i would expect their quicks to enjoy the lively deck and it would give Kohli a chance to show his class against a quality attack in helpful conditions.