NO DAY-NIGHT TEST

India refuse to play Day-Night Test in Adelaide

by Tristan Lavalette • Last updated on

Cricket Australia has hosted Day-Night Tests versus New Zealand, South Africa and England in Adelaide over the last three seasons © Getty

The highly popular day-night Adelaide Test will not eventuate next Australiansummer after Indiarefused to play with the pink ball under lights.

Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed on Tuesday (May 8) that the first Test between Australiaand Indiaat the Adelaide Oval starting on December 6 will be played during the day.

"We can confirm that we have received advice from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it is not prepared to participate in a proposed day-night Test in Adelaide this summer," a CA spokesperson said. "As a result, we can now confirm this Test match will be a day format. Whilst we appreciate some Adelaide fans may be disappointed, we know how popular the Adelaide Test is and look forward to hosting India there in December.

"We are committed to hosting at least one day-night Test each home summer as part of our continued focus to grow Test cricket, and we are excited about the day-night Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba in January."

Australia has won all four day-night Tests, including three in Adelaide, while India have yet to play in one. Despite the best efforts from CA chief executive James Sutherland, there was obvious reluctance from the BCCI to take part in the now traditional Adelaide Oval marquee match with India set to have their best chance of winning a maiden Test series in Australia. The hosts will be without suspended trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, while star quicks Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins will be coming off lengthy injury layoffs.

India have previously experimented with the pink ball in the Duleep Trophy but are still wary about it at the international level.

Cricbuzz understands that the new Perth Stadium was bandied around to open the four-Test series but Adelaide won out and it is a venue India should feel confident about. India memorably won a Test there against an all-conquering Steve Waugh-led Australia in 2003 and drew in 2008 - a match memorable for being Adam Gilchrist's final Test. Australia won a thrilling affair late on the final day in 2014 - the last time the teams squared off in Adelaide.

The Adelaide Oval Test has become the crown jewel of the Australian summer with the day-night affair attracting huge crowds and record television ratings. Last November, history was made with the first ever Ashes Test played under lights.

Sutherland last week said that he believed home boards should be allowed to set the fixtures. Current ICC rules state that a home side can hold a Day-Night Test "with the agreement of the Visiting Board".

The sole day-night fixture of the 2018-19 summer will be the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Brisbane starting on January 24. It will be the Gabba's second pink ball Test after successfully hosting Pakistan in December 2016.

© Cricbuzz

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