INDIA READY TO PLAY PINK TEST AGAINST ENGLAND, AUS

India to play D-N Test against Oz, Eng

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Sunday confirmed that India would play daynight Test against Australia this year and against England next year.

"Day-night Test will happen and we will make a public announcement -- the second Test against England next year. Yes, against Australia also," Ganguly told reporters after the Apex Council meeting here.

This comes a month after captain Virat Kohli asserted that his team was ready to play a day-night Test anywhere in Australia.

Ganguly said that the second Test of the next home series against England will be a day-night affair. He added that the Board will try to have at least one day-night Test in each series moving forward.

India played their maiden day-night Test against Bangladesh last November at the Eden Gardens, winning the match quite comfortably with plenty of time to spare.

While the venue has not been finalised yet, the pink ball game is likely to be held in either Adelaide or Perth. Hosting the game in one of these venues makes sense given the better time slot for Indian broadcast audience.

On the eve of India's threematch ODI series opener at home against Australia last month, Kohli had said, "We're ready and up for the challenge - whether it's Gabba, Perth... it doesn't matter to us. It's become a very exciting feature of any Test series and we're open to playing day-night Tests."

After India's mauling of Bangladesh in their maiden daynight Test outing in Kolkata, Ganguly had said that they "will deal as per the request" of the host Board when on tour.

India declined Australia's offer to play a day-night Test in Adelaide in 2018-19, citing lack of experience.

However, with day-night match seen as a possible answer to Test cricket's dwindling attendances, Australia had been hoping that India will agree to play one game at the Gabba this year.

NOVEMBER 24, 2019

“I said we'll ask Virat and see if we can get his permission to play here and maybe even get a Pink-ball Test if he's in a good mood. So we'll wait and see.” — TIME PAINE/ OZ CAPTAIN JANUARY 13, 2020

“We are ready and up for the challenge. And whether it’s Gabba, it’s Perth, it doesn’t matter to us... red or pink, we are ready to play.” — VIRAT KOHLI/ IND CAPTAIN