DAY-NIGHT TEST

Pink-ball Test still has a long way to go: Anil Kumble

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Kumble conceded that the new concept of day-night Tests will help in sustaining the interest of cricket lovers. © Cricbuzz

Anil Kumble, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has expressed his apprehensions about playing with the pink ball. However, the former India leg-spinner conceded that the new concept of day-night Tests will help in sustaining the interest of cricket lovers for the longest format of the game.

"I would certainly back day-night [Test] cricket. Anything we need to do to get crowd back to Test cricket... At least that is the future. In day-night matches, people can come to the stadium after office hours," Kumble replied to a question posed during a Q&A session on Twitter on Tuesday (July 5).

Kumble also noted that the think-tank's immediate focus is to adjust to different conditions the Indian unit is set to encounter in the Caribbean. West Indies also use the hand-stitched Duke ball, which in turn offers more swing for the pacers.

"We haven't really thought about pink ball yet as far as I know. It's still a long way [away]. We will be playing with Dukes red ball in the West Indies. I would like to take one match at a time. The West Indies series is important for us. We have practised [at NCA Bengaluru] for last six days with red Dukes. Once we start looking at pink ball, we will start looking at it," Kumble said.

Last month, the first pink-ball match under lights was played in India between Mohun Bagan and Bhowanipore Club at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Initially, it was slated to be held with a red ball, but Sourav Ganguly, the president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), took the initiative to host the game under floodlights. Moreover, the ambitious experiment turned out to be a success.

© Cricbuzz

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