Ian Chappell is “extremely disappointed”that India have refused to play a day-night Test against Australia later this year, saying the BCCI are more interested in winning rather than saving the longer format of the game.
The two nations had been in negotiations of playing a pink-ball match in Adelaide later this year but last week, the BCCI confirmed to Cricket Australia that all four of their Tests will be day affairs.
Writing in his column for ESPN Cricinfo, ex-Australia captain Chappell was critical of the world’s most powerful cricket body.
“The BCCI’s decision was extremely disappointing. Adelaide has become the unofficial home of day-night Test cricket, and the legacy of three years of rip-roaring success under lights there was expected to be further enhanced by the presence of a strong Indian team,” he said.
“No matter what excuse the BCCI offers, it’s hard to accept that this decision was anything other than the board looking to increase India’s chances of winning their first Test series in Australia against a weakened opponent.”
To date, there have been nine day-night Tests, with Australia hosting five. England, South Africa and ‘hosts’ Pakistan (in the UAE), have all staged games. West Indies are also set to host one against Sri Lanka in June later this year.
With the popularity of T20 going from strength to strength, Chappell believes all countries need to play their part in helping Test cricket survive.
“Nowhere can I find even a hint of it being in ‘the best interests of the game’. In an age where T20 leagues are flooding the market, Test cricket needs nurturing from the officials if it is to survive this influx.
Ian Chappell was critical of the BCCI.
“Day-night Test cricket in centres where it’s viable is a must if the long form is to have a future in a market that is becoming ever more competitive and where the officials are constantly looking for ways to compress the game.”
He added: “Apart from the obvious advantage of the matches being played at a more appropriate time for fans to either attend or watch on television, Day-Night Tests also conjure intriguing cricketing possibilities.
“Because of frequent dramatic changes in conditions, different strategies are likely to evolve for day-night Tests, particularly in relation to selection and batting orders. Day-night Tests also provide greater opportunities for bowlers and challenge a captain’s – anything that achieves those two aims is good for cricket.”