Published: Jul 01, 2015, 02:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 01, 2015, 02:11 PM (IST)
Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that day-night Tests are soon to become a reality. Australia will host New Zealand for the historic clash at the Adelaide Oval. Rishad D’Souza tries to identify the pros and cons of the novel concept.
It is amazing how cricket has the tendency to keep changing (for the better or the worse). Up to hardly 10 years ago, not many would have expected One-Day International (ODI) team scores in excess of 400, or individual double-hundreds to happen with such frequency (if at all). Take the clock back another 7-8 years, and even the concept of T20 cricket might have been unimaginable.
However, these things have happened and they are here to stay. Everything has their share of pros and cons; good and bad (sometimes even ugly); boons and banes. T20s have, to a large extent, made cricketers richer, but has perhaps sapped the sport’s essence of its richness to some extent. ODI scores in 400s make for great viewership, but it feels unjust when one considers the plight of bowlers. Sachin Tendulkar: statistically the best No. 4 batsman of all time?
Cricket, perhaps more than any the sport, is just as inevitable to transformation as is human society at large. And now the winds of change are hovering over the premium format of the game — Test cricket. Well, it’s not the first time that Test cricket will witness change.
Test cricket in its original form to the present day version of the game is vastly different in many aspects. Bats have become thicker, helmets have become integral parts of the batsman’s attire, as have other body-protective gear. Durations of Tests have also been altered with, going from timeless Tests to 6-day to the present 5-day game as we know it. Even Test cricket apparel has changed to quite an extent. Just take a look at an image of the majestic WG Grace batting to get an idea of how different the game looked a century back. Highest team totals after losing a wicket on the first ball of a Test
As is the case in human society, changes in cricket are not often accepted gleefully. Even something as seemingly beneficial as head gear was met with severe criticism when Patsy Hendren became the first man to wear a ‘helmet’ in the 1930s. In fact the DRS system has still not undergone its share of resistance as BCCI still stands firm against it (they also opposed T20s initially and now stage the richest T20 league in the world). Unsurprisingly, when CA confirmed they will play host to a day-night Test against New Zealand later this year, there was quite a stir.
The stir caused by the move can’t be dismissed as unwarranted, for the decision will see alterations to more than just timing of the game. Since the match will be played under floodlights, the age-old crimson coloured ball will be replaced by a pink one to make it clearly visible to batsmen. The customary lunch break will probably be called ‘tea’, and ‘tea’ will probably be referred to as ‘dinner’ or ‘supper’. Others are concerned that the aesthetic value and tradition of the game will be compromised if players wear coloured kits in these games, though as it stands now whites will remain the dress code. A case for Kumar Sangakkara the pundit
To determine the value of the change one has to look at the factors that resulted in it. The primary reason cited by the authorities for day-night Tests is to make it more viable for working and school-going audiences to attend games or view them on television on weekdays. It can’t be denied that their concerns of falling attendances at Tests are valid.
Shifting Test cricket to a more customer-accessible period is surely a big bonus point. However, it remains to be seen if the public will respond to this. If they do, authorities should not take the liberty to jack up ticket prices too much. It still can’t be affirmed how the new pink ball will behave; the last thing one wants is for it to make things more difficult for bowlers. There is also the possibility that despite change in colouration, the ball will still be difficult for batsmen to pick. Jonathan Bairstow and Tim Bresnan share record 366-run partnership for 7th wicket in County Cricket
Almost every change comes with its share of repercussions. What matters is whether the positives outweigh these repercussions. In the case of day-night Tests one can’t pass a measured verdict till a game occurs. But from the looks of it, the cited purpose to make the game more viable to the people is a noble one. If the game retains its basic characteristics and if people do turn up and tune in to Tests in larger numbers, it will be worth it even at expense of a slight drift from tradition.
(Rishad D’Souza, a reporter with CricketCountry, gave up hopes of playing Test cricket after a poor gully-cricket career. He now reports on the sport. You can follow @RDcric on Twitter)
