Topping WTC may indulge India in playing pink-ball Test in Australia, reckons Kevin Roberts
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Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts thinks India may agree to play a day-night Test in their tour to Australia next year, with them being comfortably placed at the top of the ICC World Test Championship Table with 360 points from seven games. Australia are on the second spot with 176 points.
Before the start of Indiaâs tour to Australia last year, there was ruckus around fixtures and schedules. The opening Test that was played in more of a batting-friendly Adelaide Oval instead of Brisbane which is known for its pace and bounce. Along with that, there was no day-night Test despite Australia being a solid promoter of it. There has been the same debate for Indiaâs tour later in 2020.
Amidst these speculations, Cricket Australia's CEO Kevin Roberts assured India are not opposed to playing at any venue and being securely placed at the top of World Test Championship table, they might use this opportunity to play a pink-ball Test in the tour Down Under.
"I don't see India being opposed to that (playing in Brisbane)... there is a lot to work through. But I don't see India being opposed to any venue. Certainly what we heard speculated in the last India tour that they refused to play at the Gabba is simply not true, so we have productive discussions with them in terms of all the future tours we are playing, be it over in India or here. We really commend India in being a good global citizen in growing the game all around the world...don't think (they) get enough credit for their generosity for the game around the world. They tour more days away from home than any other country in world cricket," Kevin Roberts assured, reported Cricbuzz.Â
Virat Kohli recently admitted the fact that they were a bit hesitant in playing pink-ball Test in foreign conditions and they wanted to get acclimatised to the pink ball in home conditions before trying their hand at it outside India. India, having played their first pink-ball Test at the Eden Gardens against Bangladesh last month, it wonât be a surprise if they agree to play a day-night Test against Australia.
With Sourav Ganguly being an advocator of day-night Test and now being at the helm of affairs in BCCI, it will be a no-brainer to say what will be the decision if the ball is in BCCIâs end to decide.
"I absolutely believe we should be playing one pink-ball Test in the Indian series next year. India to their credit are doing very well in this World Test Championship, and it's highly likely that they will make the final in 2021 if you look at where the standards are now and what's coming. I suspect that will make it easier to schedule a day-night Test next season if India have relative certainty of making the WTC final, then there is less reason not to play a day-night Test and more reason to play one.
"Also with Sourav Ganguly coming into the presidency of the BCCI, he's been very proactive in scheduling the first day-night Test in India, and we saw that was a sell out in three days which is very different to what the previous day series have looked at in terms of ticket sales. There is an openness from India and an understanding that it is good for cricket. And their standing in the WTC hopefully helps things next season," Roberts asserted.
