Day night Test cricket discussion

[mugatiya]

I think its important enough to have its own thread.

D/N cricket build up thread is here..

[mugatiya]

Pink ball undergoes broadcast trial
Brydon Coverdale
January 18, 2015
Comments: 17 | Login via  | Text size: A | A

Say cheese: Pink balls underwent a broadcast trial © Getty Images
The seemingly inexorable push towards playing a day-night Test this year continued at the MCG on Sunday, when Channel Nine and Cricket Australia conducted a broadcast trial with pink balls. Australia appear almost certain to host the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in November, with Adelaide Oval and Bellerive Oval in Hobart the most likely venues.

A day-night round of Sheffield Shield matches was played in November with pink Kookaburra balls, following on from a similar round near the end of last summer. Cricket Australia is confident the pink ball will be able to stand up to the rigours of Test cricket, but Sunday's trial in Melbourne was intended to assess how the ball shows up on television.

Channel Nine used their full setup of cameras in place for the Australia-India one-day international and club cricketers took part in the pink-ball trial before play, during the innings break and after the end of the match. New balls, 40-over balls and 80-over balls were used in the different light conditions in an attempt to replicate the progression of a day-night Test.

"We have conducted several broadcast trials in recent years which identified the pink ball as the most suitable for use in a day-night Test," James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia CEO said. "However as we move closer to scheduling a match, we felt this was a good opportunity to take advantage of Nine's full-camera set up and help it adequately prepare for a potential day-night Test later this year."

The ICC approved day-night Test cricket in 2012, leaving the finer points up to the participating boards. Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket last year discussed the prospect of playing a day-night Test during New Zealand's tour of Australia in the 2015-16 season, and Cricket Australia has also reportedly raised the possibility with West Indies, who are also touring next summer.

The traditional Boxing Day and New Year's Tests in Melbourne and Sydney will remain unaffected and Perth is also considered an unsuitable venue due to its three-hour time difference from the east coast during summer. There were some issues with visibility of the pink ball at the Gabba during last season's Sheffield Shield trial, leaving Adelaide and Hobart as the most suitable venues.

Cricket Australia is keen to bring Test cricket into the prime-time television schedule on the east coast, which already occurs during WACA Tests and brings a spike in ratings. However, Sutherland has often stressed that he did not consider day-night Test cricket as simply a money-making venture, but rather a way to revitalise the Test game around the world.

"The option to time-shift Test cricket into the evening will only strengthen the position and possibilities for Test cricket in many parts of the world," he said. "There are many Test matches played during non-holiday periods when adults are at work and kids are at school. That's not an ideal way to promote the highest form of the game. In fact there isn't a major team sport in the world that schedules the majority of its premium content during the working week.

"We're not talking about playing the Boxing Day or New Year's Test at night. The summer holiday period in Australia really lends itself to Test cricket, but at other times of the year it can be difficult for fans to attend or watch Test matches, be it here or in other parts of the world. That's really at the heart of the issue. The challenge is to try to make Test cricket more accessible for fans around the world."

[mugatiya]

Prime time here we come!

[VP]

Are you bored?

[mugatiya]

I was once anti change to test cricket. But the more I've been involved with the discussions on this topic, I am a firm believer now that D/N test cricket will be the ultimate savior of a fledging test vieweship and broad cast rights.

It might even help bring test cricket a new audience in Sub continent where people are less interested in the format, specially in SL. It will also hopeuflly pave the way for failing boards to be able to sell rights at a better deal when it comes to test cricket

A kid watching a couple of sessions on a tv in a rural area in SL will hopefully one day impact SL cricket in a way.

The ball is the main issue. I'm really looking forward to how things pan out in the November test. Hopefully cricket can build on this and move ahead with it.

[mugatiya]

The good and bad of the pink ball
Dan Allan
Light at the end of day-night tunnel

Quick Single: Lights go on for Bupa Sheffield Shield While the jury is still out on the pink ball, Shield players have given a cautious thumbs up to day-night cricket. The new pink pill is the cause of most frustration, with some players saying it gets softer earlier than its red counterpart. “It feels like a bit of a tennis ball on to the bat,” said South Australian skipper Michael Klinger mid-way through day one at Adelaide Oval. “It’s a bit softer and guys are probably struggling to hit the ball through the field a little.” The bowling side’s preference for the older ball was laid bare when South Australia opted not to take the new ball late in the day, instead persisting with two spinners in what would usually be considered ideal fast bowling conditions. Cricket Australia has been monitoring the condition of the ball in all three games and says it has been similar to the Test-issue red variety. “We are very happy with how the trial has gone so far,” Sean Cary, CA’s senior manager of Cricket Operations told cricket.com.au. “The pink ball has shown characteristics as close to the red ball as we could have hoped. “The overall feedback we've had from players and umpires is that they've been happy with how the ball has performed at each of the three venues, both during the day and under lights. “We'll continue to gather feedback over the next two days of play and will then undertake a thorough review of the matches to work out next steps.” New South Wales allrounder Steve O’Keefe was more concerned with the lack of options to replace a damaged ball 60 overs into the Redbacks’ innings. "The ball that we came back out with would have only been about 20-to-25 overs old, which changed the perspective of the game," he said. "It was a lot harder, it came onto the bat a lot nicer. It's certainly an issue that has to be looked at to maintain equality in the game.” Balls aside, the feedback has been positive. "Other than that, I think it hasn’t been as big a factor as people thought it might be, so in that way I guess it's a positive,” O’Keefe said. O’Keefe’s thoughts were echoed by Klinger. “It’s not a whole lot different,” he said. “Once you’re out there you just see a ball coming at you and try to make good decisions.” The penultimate round of the Shield season was scheduled as an opportunity to test out the many variables of the shift, especially the new ball, in a highly professional environment, with an eye to gathering as much information as possible. The trial raises the possibility of day-night Test match cricket in the not-too-distant future, but when quizzed on the prospect, Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers captain Matthew Wade wasn’t getting carried away. “I think it’s going to take a little bit more time than everyone thinks,” he said. “You need to get the ball right for one. I think the lights and all the other variables take care of themselves but the ball is a big issue. “You want it exactly how it is in the red ball game and at the moment, it’s not quite there. But they’re getting there.” Quick Single: Your Sheffield Shield survival guide




Pink balls used at Adelaide Oval Pinks balls used at the Adelaide Oval (from left to right D1-16 overs, D1-32 overs, D1-62 overs, D2-19 overs, D2-50 overs and D2-84 overs)




Pink balls used at the MCG on day one Pink balls used at the MCG on day one (from left to right 29 overs, 56 overs, 72 overs, 20 overs)




Pink balls used at the Gabba on day one  Pink balls used at the Gabba on day one (from left to right 15 overs, 25.5 overs, 41 overs, 57 overs, 72 overs, 80 overs)


Pink balls used at the Gabba on day two Pink balls used at the Gabba on day two (from left to right 29 overs, 49 overs, 15 overs, 30 overs, 45 overs, 63 overs)

[ApoCrypto]

Hope the pink ball has the same characteristics as the red one, it needs to help the bowlers is what I'm trying to say

[mugatiya]

Pink ball tested in game

Some videos etc

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/pink-ball-test-and-testing-at-mcg-cricket-australia-channel-nine-james-sutherland/2015-01-12

[mugatiya]

Pink ball survery a few years ago in Aus
http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/756487.html

Cricketers said NO to it

But I guess they improved and the stance has changed a bit..

[The One]

Pinky brings up pink balls. How fitting.