Mark Waugh terms India’s decision not to play day-night Test ‘selfish’

A couple days after Ian Chappell lashed out on BCCI for their refusal to take part in the day-night Test on India’s tour of Australia, Mark Waugh has also criticized India calling their decision not to support day-night Tests as ‘selfish’. He emphasized on the need to revitalize Test cricket and felt that day-night cricket would be the key ingredient in bringing the longest format of the game back to the limelight. 

“It’s a little bit selfish from India’s point of view because we need to revitalise Test cricket,” he told Sky radio on Wednesday. “Day-night Test cricket in some countries is going to be one of those ingredients that could transform Test cricket back to where it should be.”

India refused Australia’s proposal to play day-night Test in Adelaide after all the members came to the consensus that the game could work as a hurdle in their quest to win the series in Australia. Australia, who have won 4 out of the 4 matches they have played so far, have a strong record under lights, which is believed to have influenced the board’s decision. India is only one of two Test-playing nations, besides Bangladesh, not to have played a day-night Test.

Amitabh Choudhary was in line with the idea, but, Indian team management gave a timeline of 18 months to prepare for the game under lights, which pretty much killed the idea. Waugh suggested that India has a team which would be suited to the format and for the good of the game India should have played the game.  

“Their team is pretty well suited to day-night cricket, they’ve got a string of fast bowlers, so they don’t just rely on the spinners and their batsman are technically very good as well,” said Waugh. “So for the greater good of the game, I would have loved to have seen that as a day-night Test.”

Waugh, who announced his exit from the post as a national selector on Tuesday, stated that he was concerned about the Test cricket, seeing the dip in the game in major Test playing nations like South Africa as well.