Pink Ball Tests Would Require a Long-Term Planning: Vinod Rai

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai gave clarity to their decision of not playing a pink ball Test in Australia at the end of the year 2018. It was learnt that the decision was taken only after consulting primary stakeholders. They are the players and a head coach in nutshell. Vinod insisted that the mindset of the players is necessary.

“The whole world plays matches to win. Maybe 50 years back, Indian team used to play Test matches for a draw. We have a fantastic team. They want to focus on whatever is the immediate objective (win Test series in England and Australia, 2019 WC in England),” PTI quotes Rai.

CoA head Rai further added that Team Indian chief coach Ravi Shastri has given the players feedback to the CoA. The response came after consulting some of the senior players.

“On April 12, Ravi (Shastri) had met us for a debriefing and he told us, ‘Look the team is focussed on something else (with a year left for World Cup). The team is not ready to start practising with the pink ball yet’,” Rai maintained.

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“When we asked Ravi, has he spoken to senior players, he replied that he has indeed taken feedback from Virat and Rohit (limited overs vice-captain),” Rai asserted.

During an email conversation with Amitabh Chaudhary, Ravi Shastri said that there is no harm in experimenting. Chaudhary is the acting secretary.

“When Ravi was asked about his response he said ‘let’s experiment’ and that doesn’t mean playing any match with international teams. We have been experimenting in Duleep Trophy and it will continue,” he added.

When asked whether India will play a pink ball Test in 2019-20 home season Rai couldn’t quite give a commitment.

Rai doesn’t make any commitment regarding the future of Day-night Test plans:

“I am not making a commitment. It requires a long-term planning. I leave it to GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim,” Vinod Rai concluded.

Meanwhile, it must be noted that India will tour England and Australia later in the year for a full series. They have a big opportunity to win their first ever Test series in Australia.

Well, the chances will be quite more. Australia won’t have the services of Steven Smith and David Warner. They are arguably two of the best batsmen in world cricket. It will be a major boost for India. The No 1 team have never won a Test series in Australia before.

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