Michael Clarke Clarifies Why India was Against Playing a Day Night Test in Adelaide

Former Australian skipper, Michael Clarke has said India has a huge chance of scripting a Test series victory Down Under.

The No 1 Test team in the world would tour Australia at the end of the year. They backed out from playing any Day-Night Test, and Clarke said India had their reasons to do so.

“I think India feel like they know the conditions that will suit them best to beat Australia. Remember India have never beaten Australia ever in Australia. This is their chance,” Clarke said at during an interacting session at the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Young Leaders Forum (YLF) here.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially informed Cricket Australia that Virat Kohli and Co would not be playing a pink ball Test during their tour Down Under. India is scheduled to play four Tests against Australia starting from 10^th December. Before the Test matches, the tour will begin with a three-match T20I series.

Cricket Australia wanted to continue their recent tradition of starting the opening Test under lights at the Adelaide Oval from 6^th to 10^th December. The Indian team management had strict reservations about playing a Day-Night Tests.

The management which is headed by head coach Ravi Shastri said India will take at least 18 months to prepare for a pink ball Day/Night Test.

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Clarke gave his views on what should have prompted India to not play a day-night Test in their tour Down Under.

“If India plays during the day, the wicket is flatter and spin a little bit more. At night there is no spin, there is moisture and bit more movement.”

“So India prefer to take their chances during the day like they have played every other Test match throughout their careers. So I can understand why they are not wanting to play D/N Test matches,” said the veteran retired cricketer.

However, Clarke started the fact that Day Night Tests are way forward for the future. It will help more fans engage in watching the game after the day’s work.

“I do believe for the game, particularly in the summer of Australia, to get people watching on television we are going to see a lot more D/N Test matches moving forward and probably around the world.”

Clarke reveals a secret from the 2015 World Cup final 

Meanwhile, Clarke also revealed the secret of how Australia got rid of Brendon McCullum in the 2015 World Cup final. McCullum was in red-hot form coming in to the final. However, he failed to make a mark in the big match, as Mitchell Starc castled him with a sensational Yorker.

“We planned that wherever he bats, every single ball to him should be yorkers. We wanted to bowl at him like it’s the last five overs. Next day, Starc was with the new ball and asked ‘Skipper is the plan still the same? I said yes.’ Fortunately, it worked,” he revealed.

The former New Zealand skipper got dismissed for a 3^rd ball duck which eventually proved to be decisive in the outcome of the match. Australia lifted the World Cup for the fifth time after defeating New Zealand by seven wickets and with 101 deliveries to spare.

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