Black Caps need to focus on a win not pink ball

The contrast with Australia’s first two daytime Tests of the current series against New Zealand could not be starker – with low turnouts and funereal ground atmospheres in Brisbane and Perth – yet again bringing into focus Test cricket’s ability to survive in a modern sporting environment.

Sutherland has already revealed Cricket Australia is launching a full review into ticketing prices and structures ahead of next summer, after the low attendances for the first Test at the Gabba.

“I love all cricket but my preferred format of the game is Test cricket”.

The Idea of Day Night test matches has been given by CA chief executive James Sutherland.

Southee won’t have that luxury in the inaugural day-night Test, which starts on Friday at Adelaide Oval.

“That was our trial for the Test match”, he said, reflecting on the day-night match which featured the new pink ball. The victims included century-maker Sam Whiteman and top-order duo Marcus Harris and Jon Wells, who had returned to the crease.

Opener David Warner admitted it would hurt if the Black Caps were able to level the series at one-all by winning the third test in Adelaide. Fielders have trouble sighting it against the background (more so than the white ball) and batsmen can see it properly only because they have benefit of a sightscreen.

After India had gone through their training routine, paying special attention to close-in catching, Kohli opened up on what the mood was like in the Indian camp over the last few days, when little or no cricket was played.

For Hough’s part, he was less eager to paint this as a pitch prepared entirely to suit a cricket ball, but admitted its composition was out of step with Adelaide’s usual fare.

“It’s obviously pretty exciting to have that many people there for this historic Test and I think it’s going to be a great fixture”, he said on Tuesday.

Kohli also praised the two teams, Australia and New Zealand on taking up the challenge of playing in the first ever day and night Test. If Steyn is unable to play, Morne Morkel may have to lead the South African pace attack since Vernon Philander is also ruled out due to injury.

Based on the swing specialist’s form at this year’s World Cup he would be a handful with the pink ball under lights. “There will definitely be different characteristics in a day-night test than a day game, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing”.

The likelihood is the concept has some way to go to get approval from the global Cricket Council, who would take any recommendation from the MCC committee to the member nations for approval.

“We’re breaking the ice so to speak”, Cary said. “I know we all gave positive feedback”.

“Talking to the players and captains and umpires, we felt that it was just a good balance between bat and ball”.

“Bracewell bowled fantastic and won New Zealand the game”.