India’s tour of Australia later this year will not feature a day-night Test at Adelaide.
Cricket Australia (CA) had been bidding to make the first Test at Adelaide starting on December 6 a day-night affair but their efforts have proved to be futile with BCCI remaining skeptical about the quality of the pink ball.
Vinod Rai, the chief of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) installed to oversee the workings of the BCCI, has stated that the day-night Test is a no go.
“Yes, it’s pretty clear that we are not playing a day-night Test in Australia, no doubt about it. We have been saying this all along that we are experimenting with pink ball cricket in the Duleep Trophy and that’s it for now,” Rai said on the matter.
“Nobody can put a gun on to our head and say play (day-night Test). There have been doubts about the pink ball itself in Duke and Kookaburra,” he added.
Australia have won all three day-night Tests held at Adelaide.
On his part, CA chief James Sutherland believes that India’s reluctance to play under lights at Adelaide has something to do with Australia’s excellent record in day-night Tests.
“I think everyone in world cricket knows that, to be frank, I think they want to come out here and beat us. There’s a sense, or a reality, that Australia has won each of the pink-ball Test matches that have played in Australia and there may be a sense that it gives us a bit of an advantage,” Sutherland told SEN Radio on Wednesday.
India will embark on the tour of Australia in November this year and will play four Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is against the hosts.