Arjuna and Murali oppose

Former Sri Lanka World Cup winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga said that he did not believe in Test cricket being played at night and firmly endorsed the highest level of the game, Test cricket should be played during day time.

Muttiah Muralitharan........ Playing Test matches in the night could cost a colossal sum of money, better to play Test matches under natural light.

Arjuna Ranatunga..... Firmly believes that Test cricket should be played in daylight with the red ball and clad in white maintaining the rich tradition.

“I may sound old-fashioned , but I firmly believe that the traditional version of Test cricket which has been played over a century, clad in white flannels and with a red ball should not be undermined. The ultimate goal in the new concept is money no doubt.” he said

Arjuna Ranatunga who master-minded the 1996 World Cup win and gave a new dimension for Sri Lanka cricket has played in 93 Test matches and scored 5,105 runs. In his 269 ODI’s, Ranatunga had 7,456 runs against his name. His unique feat as the captain was defeating Pakistan in Pakistan for the first time in 1995 in a Test series 2-1 and subsequently annexing the coveted World Cup the following year.

Sri Lanka’s ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan also told Sunday Observer Sports in an exclusive interview, for Sri Lanka to avoid playing Test matches in the night as the cost will be too high to bear, with electricity and other effects coming into play.

England win highly competitive series

There was speculation for some time to play Test cricket in the night to draw crowds which have been receding during Test matches , specially in the sub-continent , which had a full house during Test matches in the past. Besides, England, Australia and South Africa which consider Test cricket as sacred, have brought in the crowds while Test matches have been played in their countries. Judging by the recently concluded ‘Ashes’ series the two oldest Test playing rivals England and Australia have given the spectators their monies worth with a highly competitive series , which England won.

It will not be easy to play Test cricket in the night with so many changes coming into play with the pink ball. That is something new for the players. Sri Lanka were to meet Pakistan in a series in Dubai which included three Tests and five ODI’s and two T20’s.

One Test match in this three-Test series, was to be played at night, but it simply faded away with the issue of the pink ball.

Australia and New Zealand may go for a night Test on an experimental basis and it will be interesting to see the outcome of the match as in each country the conditions differ.

Charith Senanayake...... A certain section will not be for it. But it is worthwhile giving it a try.

Anura Tennekoon... It is still in an experimental stage. We’ll have to wait and see whether it will draw the crowds.

Sidat Wettimuny ... It is good if the crowd rallies round to witness night cricket.

Aravinda de Silva ….... Believes in something novel . If the concept could bring the crowds back it is good for the game.

Ashantha de Mel...... Give it a try and see whether it could draw the crowds.

The Sunday Observer spoke to some past Test cricketers who had different views on the concept of Test matches being played in the night. This is what they had to say ...

Ashantha de Mel... Former Sri Lanka fast bowler and former Selection Committee Chairman.

Ashantha de Mel, airing his views on the concept of Test matches being played in the night, said that if it could attract crowds which are lacking these days specially in the sub-continent, it’s not an entirely bad idea. But, he was not sure whether the use of a ‘pink’ ball during the match will be a one hundred percent successful one.

De Mel stressed on the point of most of the bowlers ,specially the fast bowlers, will have the advantage while bowling in the night with the conditions changing in the night as the ball has the tendency to do a little bit more. He said that he wouldn’t mind bowling long spells in the might as less fatigue is involved. Playing Test matches at day or night, the final outcome should be a result oriented one. Pitches in the sub-continent are usually under prepared with the ball turning from day one. We should try to create something like the recently concluded Ashes series in England. Although it was low-scoring games , both teams fought their way. He concluded saying that the most precious game of cricket is Test cricket and the rest of the formats are circus.

Anura Tennekoon – Former Sri Lanka cricket captain. First World Cup Cricket captain 1975 .

Anura Tennekoon said that the concept of playing Test cricket in the night with the intention of drawing more spectators, which is now in an experimental stage could have a mixed bag of good and bad. Talking about the plus points he said that the spectators will not have to spend the whole day watching cricket.

But from the players point of view, playing in the night could rapidly change the conditions like dew settling down and the tendency of the ball to do little more than during the day time which could make conditions favourable for one side.

He believed that Test cricket is the format that a player could display his true potential like technique and temperament. However, the older generation still appreciate the longer version of the game. In England and Australia Test matches are still a crowd puller during the day time judging by the recently concluded ‘Ashes’ series. But in the past, countries like India and the other countries in the sub-continent Test matches were played to a capacity crowd, unlike these days where one could see plenty of big gaps in the stands.

Aravinda de Silva – Former Sri Lanka Test captain and former Chairman Selection Committee.

Aravinda de Silva who is always positive even in the most adverse situation, while batting or any other situation expressed his views on Test cricket been played in the night said that it is worth while trying playing Test cricket in the night. The cricketing world is changing. When the limited overs format was introduced first some years back, many thought that it would harm Test cricket. But it did not happen. Limited overs matches took another turn when it was played as day/night matches and now the T20 has caught up and has come to stay.

It is always good trying something novel to create more spectators interest. The conditions may be different in the night specially the ‘dew’ factor. But Aravinda said that this wet condition could prevail even during the day time if it rains.

Muralitharan said that playing Test matches in the night will cost a colossal some of money for electricity and it is not the ideal way to play Test cricket for Sri Lanka. It is better to stick to Test matches played during the day time. You need to make a lot of changes, like changing the colour of the ball, sight screens etc, if they are to play Test cricket in the night.

Conditions could change drastically while playing in the night. Specially with the dew setting in, which will be unfair for one side. The coming in of the dew, can be a continuous process. So it is better for Sri Lanka to stick to Test matches played during the day time. However, efforts are being made to play night Tests on an experimental basis, During a series between New Zealand and Australia.

Charith Senanayake – Former Sri Lanka opener and a former Manager of the National Cricket Team.

Charith Senanayake said that the Test matches played in the night may not suite a certain group of people, but it is worthwhile trying it out whether it could draw the crowds that has disappeared, specially in the sub-continent. It is better to try something novel. The night Test is to be experimented and people will support it if it works.

However, Test cricket in the sub-continent seems to be a dying art today. Commercialising is not viable and it is worthwhile trying something new. If the people embrace it like the ODI’s and T20, more crowds could gather to watch Test matches played at night.

I can only make speculations. The organisers will have to try it out and see. Still the colour of the ball is an issue which has to be ascertained.

They are trying to use a pink ball and has found that the pink ball will have to be experimented against the white clothing. There could be pluses and minus instances which both sides have to undergo.

Specially sighting the ball and playing conditions changing in the night. But, however, if it is beneficial and able to bring more commercial value to cricket and bring back the crowds, it should be a good move. It will enable the spectators to relax and watch matches instead of spending the whole day witnessing a match.