New Delhi: The Indian cricket board’s approach of win at all costs without looking at the bigger picture by refusing to play a day-night Test match against Australia is extremely disappointing, feels former Australian captain Ian Chappell.
“The BCCI’s decision was extremely disappointing,” Chappell wrote in his column for a cricket specific website. “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 against a weaker Australia team.”
The kangaroos will be without their Steve Smith and David Warner during the home series against India later in the year as they will be in the middle of their one-year ban imposed on charges of ball tampering during Australia’s Test series in South Africa.
However, Chappell also feels that the interest of the fans should be taken into account. “Apart from the obvious advantage of the matches being played at a more appropriate time for fans to either attend or watch on television, D/N Tests also conjure up intriguing cricketing possibilities,” Chappell added.
Chappell also asserted that the D/N Test matches will also provide greater opportunities for the bowlers to hone their skills at different conditions and will also challenge a captain’s imagination towards the game.
He also added that because of dramatic condition changes different strategies are likely to evolve particularly for in relation to team selection and batting orders.
D/N Test matches allow the players to perform at different conditions as well as challenge the captain’s imagination towards the game
Ian Chappel