Broadcaster Sony has implored Indian cricket’s governing body to agree to a day-night Test in Australia next summer after star batsman Virat Kohli’s declaration his team is ready.
Cricket Australia boss Kevin Roberts met BCCI counterpart Sourav Ganguly this week in Mumbai, with a day-night Test high on the agenda.
The Aussies are desperate to play at least one pink-ball match in next summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy, after being denied the chance by India in 2018-19.
The scheduling of one might lead to a ratings bonanza for Sony which has the rights to broadcast Australian cricket in India.
Tests in Australia begin around 5:00am in India, with the time difference,meaning viewers must wake up early or miss the first session of play.
A day-night Test would allow telecasts to start locally about 8:30am, ensuring fans would be able to tune in all day with increased ratings.
“With India touring Australia, they should definitely look at one or two Tests because timing definitely makes a difference,” Sony’s head of sport Rajesh Kaul, told the Hindustan Times.
The Aussies have an unblemished record in day-night Tests, having won all seven they have played.
Adelaide would be the likely venue and, while CA wants more than one pink-ball Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, that at this stage appears unlikely.
“It’s certainly an advantage to us,” quick Josh Hazlewood told AAP ahead of this week’s one-day series in India.
“It’s not as good as it was three or four years ago as a bowler. The wicket is getting flatter a little bit.
“The ball has still got quite soft during the middle of the day. It’s quite dictated by that night session if you have the new ball at night.
“But I think it’s great for TV and for the crowd. It’s quite exciting; it’s a packed house with an atmosphere at night being pretty good.
“Adelaide is the perfect spot, he (curator) knows the wicket inside out and gets it right every time. I would love to play one.”
India played their first day-night Test late last year against Bangladesh, flogging the tourists amid concerns over visibility issues.
“We played the day-night Test here. We were pretty happy with how it went,” Kohli said.
“It’s become a very exciting feature of any Test series and we’re open to playing day-night Tests.
“We’re ready and up for the challenge … We have the skill sets as a team now to compete against anyone in the world, anywhere, in any format of the game.”
Meanwhile, it’s expected Roberts’ discussion this week would have also centred on a possible four-team one-day super series, which was floated in December by India.
New Zealand officials are present, while Roberts will also meet Bangladesh administrators later in the week, with Australia set to tour there in June.
© AAP
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