Pat Cummins remains lukewarm about embracing further day-night Tests outside Adelaide despite Australia extending their perfect pink-ball record.
Australia crushed England by 146 runs in Hobart – the second of two Tests in the Ashes series played under lights – making it 10 wins from 10 day-night Tests.
The majority of those fixtures have been at Adelaide Oval, with Bellerive joining the Gabba and Optus Stadium as other Australian venues to have hosted a day-night Test.
Cricket Australia (CA) made it clear while finding a new home for the fifth Ashes Test, originally scheduled in Perth, that the match must be a pink-ball contest.
Broadcasters remain keen to schedule more Tests under lights, as they offer more prime-time fodder than the standard timeslot.
But Cummins and Mitchell Starc are among the traditionalists in Australia’s Test squad when it comes to the innovation.
“Personally, I really like red-ball cricket,” Cummins said after Australia secured a 4-0 series win over England.
“Pink ball is great as an event.
“It just has a lot more unknowns, based on conditions.
“It’s really hard to get a wicket right for pink ball. If you err on the flatter side, it becomes really, really flat.
“Sometimes the ball swings, sometimes it doesn’t. Yeah, so I think red ball is still the ultimate form of Test cricket so as much as possible of that.”
Starc, the world’s all-time leading wicket-taker in day-night Tests, expressed similar sentiments a week ago.
“Obviously the first time having two (pink-ball Tests) in the one series,” the left-armer said.
“In terms of how many pink-ball games you play through a summer, I just hope we don’t get too carried away with it. You still want to see see plenty of red-ball cricket.”
The recent Ashes series finale was Hobart’s first Test since 2016, with Cricket Tasmania (CT) hoping it can return to being a more regular stop on the summer of Test cricket.
“For sure. No reason why not,” Cummins said.
“The challenge is we always only ever play four, five or maximum six Test matches in a summer and there’s some other pretty big states.
“If the schedule allows it, of course.”
CT chairman Andrew Gaggin hoped the Gabba’s upcoming redevelopment, for the 2032 Olympics, could help deliver more Tests for Tasmania.
“We’ve been hosting Test matches since 1989,” Gaggin said.
“We can put on a great show.
“When the Gabba is out of action, because they’re demolishing it for three years, then we’d … like to host Tests in those three years.
“Leaving aside anything else we can get.”
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
I seem to recall a day/night test in Adelaide a few weeks ago that went for 5 days...
Paul
Roar Guru
It's hard to have a beer when it's that cold too. I'd probably to go straight to rum.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Well I tuned into the BBL the other day and I believe I heard them call one batsman hitting a “Chemist Warehouse four”. So anything is possible. Some MacDonalds grass? Harvey Norman air? WA Water Corporation could sponsor the rain in the Perth Test, though that could be money wasted!
GW
Roar Pro
There are twice as many people in the ACT as there are in Hobart, so why not look to Manuka Oval in future? It’s not as cold as Hobart at night (in summer), so at least it won’t look like the crowd is there for the winter olympics.
NickNoel
Roar Rookie
There is no doubt day / night Test Cricket should go and never come back.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Perth Stadium please, unless you're going to be consistent and call it the Vodafone Ashes.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I felt cold just looking at all those rugged up spectators! :shocked:
ColinT
Roar Rookie
Agree with most you say JN, except “sacrosanct” might be a bit much. DRS is important as you say although we must continue to recognise the limitations of technology. For instance, ball tracking is not 100% accurate. It can only predict where the ball might go if it continues along the trajectory it was following when it struck the pads. That predicted path could be out by up to 33mm or more in any direction. I therefore support the “umpires call” rule for lbw decisions, despite Shane Warne agitating to scrap it. I would also like to see greater standardisation of bats.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't the Gabba being out of action possibly open up the possibility of QC & the Gold Coast council organising a test or two @ Metricon?
Akitas
Roar Rookie
They also need to be considering whether to move the Sydney test to a different date to avoid the "rainy season"which seems to arrive in the New Year.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm sure the Australian captain made a lot of sense with these comments and most, including me, would agree with him. I'm equally sure his opinion will be completely ignored by CA because this is all about money and the broadcast rights makes a lot more money than a few thousand people in at Blundstone. It will take a little while, but once curators get the pitches right for d/n matches and Kookaburra gets the pink ball right, I can see more day/night Tests than day Tests, probably within the next decade.
Paul
Roar Guru
"Traditions should be valued and treated as sacrosanct." Not sure I'd agree traditions should be sacrosanct JN. I certainly agree red ball, day time matches are the way to go, where possible. The rest of your comment is spot on.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I must say that the pitches have been much better this year. For a few years there test match cricket in this country was exactly how you've described.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
The ground and atmosphere in Hobart looked great. Hope they get more tests in the future but agree that pink ball is not a wise idea down there. Red ball day games are just fine for that wicket
Simon G
Roar Rookie
Personally I’d rather see a 3 day Test like we just had, with a genuine contest between bat and ball, then a 5 day snoozefest where 4-550 in the 1st innings is a par score…
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Surely the broadcasters would like a test match that goes for a little longer than 3 days. If the ball and conditions are determining the outcome then it's not actually a fair contest. They should stick to playing test matches during the day.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I appreciate Pat Cummins for speaking out on this . I’ve previously been on record opposing changes to Test cricket for the sake of change . Traditions should be valued and treated as sacrosanct. It’s those traditions that gave us our sport in the first place . Not saying don’t move forward with the times but change has to be seen as absolutely essential before they get implemented. DRS for example became a very important and necessary addition thanks to available technology as well as the creeping cancer of match fixing about . It’s a major weapon in that fight and one we have to win or it will destroy cricket . I for one don’t feel any need or added benefit watching cricket at night . There is a culture out there that if you are not constantly changing you are not improving. That can be dangerous.