Waugh
Mark Waugh.Credits: Getty Images.

Former Australia’s opener Mark Waugh has said that India’s decision to not play the day-night Test is ‘selfish’. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had recently declined the Cricket Australia’s offer to play the pink ball Test in Adelaide. Waugh believes that India has refused to play the Test fixture to take advantage in the series.

Waugh believes that day-night Test cricket has the power of transforming the longest format of the game.

Meanwhile, former Australia’s skipper Ian Chappell had also criticised BCCI decision to not play under floodlights.

Mark Waugh
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Day Night Test can help save red ball form:

We have noticed that the red ball form needs a new life and it is high time that we look at the future to grow the oldest as well as purest format.

Mark Waugh said while talking to Sky Radio“It’s a little bit selfish from India’s point of view because we need to revitalise Test cricket. 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.”

India
Indian team celebrates their wicket. Credits: AFP

The former flamboyant batsman Waugh added that Test cricket is alive in only three countries namely Australia, India, and England. Thus there is a cause of concern for the revival of the purest form of the game.

Waugh added, “So it’s really only Australia, India and England where Test cricket is alive and well. For me, that’s a concern.”

Waugh who is set to step down as Australian selector, is also surprised by the Indian board’s decision as he believes that the World No.1 1 team in the format has a good depth.

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Indian team has shown an upward swing in their improvement graph in their pace bowling battery.

Mark Waugh believes India has a strong arsenal in the bowling department.

Waugh went on add, “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. So for the greater good of the game, I would have loved to have seen that as a day-night Test.”

Mark Waugh,
Photo Credit: AAP.

Furthermore, Mitchell Johnson also opined that the governing body should improve the quality of the pitches and then they should ponder on the quality of the balls.

The former Australian pacer took to Twitter to share his thoughts. Johnson post read as, “Improve cricket wickets then improve the quality of the balls so we see a fair challenge between bat and ball. That would be a start”.

Here is Johnson’s Tweet:

https://twitter.com/MitchJohnson398/status/996656380294529024

Cricket is my first love. I want to be a wordsmith. I want to weave magic with my words.