Wellington: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Tuesday announced the possibility of their playing a day-night Test match with pink ball during their tour of India later this year.
Indian cricket board officials raised New Zealand eyebrows late last week with their announcement that they “will” play one of New Zealand’s Tests during their visit under lights.
The New Zealand Cricket seem to be embracing the idea, provided the two boards go ahead with the plan. Mumbai is the most likely venue for hosting the match.
NZC chief executive David White had talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials during the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai late last week.
“We’ve said we are receptive to the idea. We will work closely with the players, but in saying that, if the trials look good and they (India) are comfortable with (the trials), it’s very positive from our point of view. We believe day-night Test cricket has a big future in the game,” White was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald on Tuesday.
India will trial pink balls in domestic matches before New Zealand’s arrival. White said there was a solid consensus around the ICC table in Dubai about the importance of day-night cricket in the future test landscape. “The sentiment was very positive. Everyone realises it’s going to be important for the future of the Test format, to make it accessible to the fans,” he said.
Ticket prices
Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday announced a significant reduction in ticket prices for international matches in the Australian summer.
More than three-quarters of all seats will be sold at lower prices than last year, with entry-level tickets for all Tests and One-Day matches to cost no more than $30 for adults, $10 for children and $65 for families (two adults, two children).
The summer that will feature 41 days of international cricket against South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, more than 50 per cent of all tickets will be available for $50 or less.
“It was clear from an extensive review that more fans wanted the opportunity to see our biggest stars in action,” Cricket Australia’s chief executive, James Sutherland said in a statement.
“Record numbers of fans have been attending elite cricket matches in Australia during recent seasons and we want to make Test and one-day cricket even more accessible.”
