Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh has lashed out at the Indian cricket team for refusing to play the series opener day-night Test in Adelaide during their tour later this year.
"It's a little bit selfish from India's point of view because we need to revitalise Test cricket," Waugh said on Australia's Big Sports Breakfast radio show.
Earlier this month, India’s BCCI formally conveyed their decision not to play the twilight Test to the Cricket Australia saying the players were not ready for the format.
CA boss James Sutherland said India’s reluctance to play a day-night Test was because the team was only focused on “winning the series” rather than the future of the game.
Former Australian captain, Steve Waugh Source: AAP
Vinod Rai, the head of the Committee of Administrators of the BCCI reacted sharply to this.
“What’s wrong with us wanting to win all the matches? Any team that steps out on a pitch wants to win. 30 years back they said India play Test matches only to draw but they don’t say that anymore,” Mr Rai said on Thursday.
What’s wrong in us wanting to win all the matches? Any team that steps out on a pitch wants to win. 30 years back they said India play Test matches only to draw but they don’t say that anymore.- Vinod Rai, head of Committee of Administrators - BCCI
He said India would play a day-night test only when the players are ready.
“Till the time Indian players say that they are ready to play day-night matches, there will be no day-night matches that India will play.”
Waugh, who led the Australian cricket team to two World Cup victories, said day-night Test could transform the game.
"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,” he said.
Although the Indians are inexperienced at playing with the pink ball, Waugh said he was baffled at their refusal to play despite the current Indian team’s depth under Virat Kohli.
"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," he said.
I don’t know why they don’t want to play day-night Test matches. It’s an interesting format and we should try it. I am all for it.- Harbhajan Singh
The Australians have found support from Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who is calling on the Indian team to shed their inhibition of the format.
“I don’t know why they don’t want to play day-night Test matches. It’s an interesting format and we should try it. I am all for it,” the Indian off-spinner told the Press Trust of India.
Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh with wife Geeta Basra and daughter Hinaya. Source: Twitter
“Tell me what’s the apprehension of playing with the pink ball? If you play, you can adjust. It may not be as difficult as it seems,” added the Turbanator who is India’s third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.
India had been expected to play a day-night test against West Indies in October before commencing their Australia tour. The Indian Express reported that the day-night Test between the two teams is not happening now.
India plays three T20 internationals, four tests and three one-day internationals in their tour of Australia from November to January.
