Mark Waugh slams India for refusing pinkball Test
DAYNIGHT TEST Former Australian batsman terms BCCI decision ‘selfish’
MUMBAI: Former Australian batsman Mark Waugh has slammed the Indian cricket team for its refusal to play Day-night Test, labelling the decision ‘selfish’.
He said India’s refusal not to embrace innovation will hurt the future of Test cricket.
“It’s a little bit selfish from India’s point of view because we need to revitalise Test cricket. Day-night Test cricket in some countries is going to be one of those ingredients that could transform Test cricket back to where it should be,” Waugh told Big Sports Breakfast radio, a few days after Australian legend, Ian Chappell, had hit out at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the same.
“So it’s really only Australia, India and England where Test cricket is alive and well,” he said. “For me that’s a concern,” added Waugh.
India and Bangladesh are yet to play a day-night Test match.
Waugh further argued that he didn’t understand India’s reluctance to play day-night Test given the depth in their squad.
“Their team is pretty well suited to Day-night cricket, they’ve got a string of fast bowl- ers, so they don’t just rely on the spinners and their batsmen are technically very good as well,” he said.
“So for the greater good of the game, I would have loved to see a Day-night Test.”
India’s tour of Australia, which will begin on November 21 and ends on January 18, features three T20IS, four Tests and three ODIS. India ruled out the possibility of playing Australia in a pink- ball Test at Adelaide in December.
Cricket Australia’s proposal to the BCCI to play a day-night match was formally rejected.
CA CEO James Sutherland had said, “I think personally the home country should have the right to schedule matches as it sees fit and start them at whatever time of day they want.”