Faf keen for local four-day game to embrace day-night concept
THE PROTEAS did not blame a lack of preparation for their pink ball Test defeat in Adelaide, but would like to see it become a regular part of South Africa’s domestic cricket calendar to prepare players for its unique challenges.
Captain Faf du Plessis, though, understands it may not be possible immediately due to the quality of the floodlights currently in use at some local grounds.
“The questions we had about day-night cricket were more sceptical and now we are not so much like that anymore,” Du Plessis said. “But there are positive signs. I would like to see it in South Africa.” Obviously, the lights would have to be upgraded dramatically but it adds something different to Test cricket.”
Financially it might be a strain on the domestic unions to stage day-night firstclass cricket due to the high cost of electricityCricket South Africa president Chriz Nenzani, who was present at the Adelaide Oval, admitted South Africa still had “a long way to go” in terms of matching the stadium facilities Australia boasted, and that it was only possible with government assistance.
Australia’s Sheffield Shield – the equivalent of South Africa’s Sunfoil Series – will comprise two day-night fixtures this season to expose its domestic players to more pinkball cricket.
The advent of Test cricket under lights and the usage of the pink ball have added a different dimension to the game.
Du Plessis tried to maximise the effect of bowling under lights by offering up a tactical declaration in South Africa’s first innings, and although it was not effective in producing the desired results, it had people excited about the possibilities.
Vernon Philander opened the bowling with the pink ball after Du Plessis’s declaration and had his own views on its behaviour.
“It is different in the hand, different to the red ball in the way it behaves. It think it does too much. It is certainly work in progress in terms of the pink ball. We just need to get used to it. I would also like to see our domestic teams play with it a bit for future reference,” the Man of the Series explained.
South Africa may have tried to be too smart in their pink ball game plans in terms of dropping left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for left-arm Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi. Throughout the build-up to this Test the Proteas had spoken about how the Australians may struggle to “read” Shamsi out of the hand due to the different colour of the ball.