"It's a bit selfish from India's point of view because we need to revitalise Test cricket" : M Waugh

[MenInG]

"It's a bit selfish from India's point of view because we need to revitalise Test cricket" : M Waugh

India's refusal to play day-night Test cricket is holding back the future of the game, Mark Waugh says.
The world's most powerful cricketing nation - that earlier this month ruled out playing Australia in a day-night test match at the Adelaide Oval next summer - is one of only two Test-playing nations not to have played a day-night Test.

Waugh says the decision is not just disappointing, it's also selfish given the falling popularity of Test cricket around the globe.

"It's a little bit selfish from India's point of view because we need to revitalise Test cricket," he told Sky radio on Wednesday.

"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."

The former Australian batsman said although Test cricket was the pure form of the game it had fallen away in many cricketing nations, including the West Indies and South Africa.

"So it's really only Australia, India and England where Test cricket is alive and well," he said.

"For me that's a concern."

Waugh said he didn't understand why India was reluctant to play day-night Test cricket given their playing depth.

"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," he said.

"So for the greater good of the game, I would have loved to have seen that as a day-night Test."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/india-is-holding-back-test-cricket-waugh-20180516-p4zfmf.html

 

[MenInG]

Don't think this will go down too well in India or IPL!

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

"Mark Waugh also criticized certain countries canceling pre-agreed test series against "emerging nations" due to selfish commercial reasons - thereby damaging the cause of test cricket." Probably not mentioned due to space constraints on the article. Hmmm...

 

[Third_Umpire]

Why is India refusing? Just being difficult, or do they have a concern?

 

[Ab Fan]

Dunno what was thw reason but I am not against Mark Waugh here.

 

[Darkrai]

India being India nothing new. Not sure why people expect better from them.

 

[Syed1]

"Opportunity to cry and we don't grab it with both hands, not on our watch "

 

[Dingolfy]

Why is India refusing? Just being difficult, or do they have a concern?

They think this as a Golden opportunity to win a series in Australia for the first time and dont want to spoil that party with swinging pink ball which Australia has some prior experience of.But IMHO, Indian pace bowlers shown how good are they in helping conditions many times and can be as good as Aussies in the D/N test.Also Indian batsmen play horizontal movement better than current Australian batsmen barring Smith who wont be playing in that series.

 

[EliteCynical]

Don't think this will go down too well in India or IPL!

So let me get this straight, here is a guy who is a selector of a board which just cancelled a tour of Bangladesh due to financial viability, (which has no relation whatsoever with survival of test cricket?) is upset that India refused a day/night game?

 

[Rishta Aunty]

It's clear India thinks that this is their chance to win a series in Australia. Short-sighted though as their wins abroad have come on sporting or bowling-friendly tracks where they're batsman have outbatted the opposition, and their bowlers can make up for their shortcomings through helpful conditions.

In fact, I'd have said that a pink-ball match would have been India's best chance to beat Australia. Someone like Starc or Hazelwood will be effective even on flat pitches, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar won't be.

 

[Dingolfy]

It's clear India thinks that this is their chance to win a series in Australia. Short-sighted though as their wins abroad have come on sporting or bowling-friendly tracks where they're batsman have outbatted the opposition, and their bowlers can make up for their shortcomings through helpful conditions.

In fact, I'd have said that a pink-ball match would have been India's best chance to beat Australia. Someone like Starc or Hazelwood will be effective even on flat pitches, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar won't be.

This. Most of India's overseas wins have come on sporting pitches and our current pace bowlers can move the ball at pace as anybody.Their recent performance in SA against much better batsmen than current Australian lineup is an indicator.

 

[USofA]

Interesting that he would call BCCI selfish, yet not say anything about CA on their selfishness. The BCCI is still playing the same number of tests. CA on the other hand cancelled an entire test series. Yet according to him BCCI is the only one not willing to promote test cricket.

He also says that test cricket is alive and well in the Big3. So not sure why they need any new gimmick to sell to these audience. It is the other countries that these things need to be sold. Like the ones CA is cancelling tests cricket on.

CA could have easily stood their ground and not deviate from their schedule. They could have told the BCCI that this is our schedule that includes a D/N test, take it or leave it. They could have gone looking for other boards to play with, when BCCI refused. But no, CA is selfish and want the Indian $$$.

There is nothing wrong with what CA did though. Everyone lives in the real world. The only problem is, in the real world - "your money, my rules" does not work. CA just had a hard realization of that.

As far as why BCCI refused the Adelaide D/N, I am not sure. Who knows, perhaps they thought that tv cameras cannot pickup sandpaper under lights!

 

[Varun]

What's his opinion on shelling the tests against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe?

 

[BlackShadow]

What's his opinion on shelling the tests against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe?

Quality over quantity. A Test series against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe does degrade the status of Test Cricket.

 

[Rahul1]

So let me get this straight, here is a guy who is a selector of a board which just cancelled a tour of Bangladesh due to financial viability, (which has no relation whatsoever with survival of test cricket?) is upset that India refused a day/night game?

Don't ask difficult questions brother.

 

[Varun]

Quality over quantity. A Test series against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe does degrade the status of Test Cricket.

How does the lack of a bubble-gum day night game degrade it then?

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe need all the tests they can get. End of.

 

[USofA]

Quality over quantity. A Test series against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe does degrade the status of Test Cricket.

But he wants to promote test cricket all over. Do you think he meant only quality test cricket? i.e. Big3 test cricket?

 

[BreadPakoda]

Test cricket needs to undergo change. Mark Waugh and our Pakistani brothers are right. Not sure what India is trying to protect here. Indians and British people can keep on liking the so called "pure" way of playing test cricket but the rest of the world wants more glamour. Pink ball, cheerleaders, and Danny Morrison will play a key role in reviving this archaic format going forward.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Quality over quantity. A Test series against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe does degrade the status of Test Cricket.

Ah so he meant promote test cricket to emerging nations by playing D/N test with India and not by playing the emerging cricketing nations.

Cool, cool, cool.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Lol as if D/N tests are going to save test cricket. Or 4 day tests for that matter.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If Waugh was really bothered about the greater good of the game, he would be criticising India for refusing to play Pakistan. The sport is very limited as far as world reach is concerned, to try to sideline on of the major players is not doing the game any good at all.

 

[Mp812]

Why is India refusing? Just being difficult, or do they have a concern?

That's the problem that if India refuses something they are criticised but if they embrace something it is criticized. Take example of T20. Before T20 2007 India refused to promote or participate in t20 games and they were criticised left and right by many.
They embraced t20 eventually and formed ipl and they are criticised for accepting t20s and not giving importance to tests. Same with DrS and same will happen with day and night tests.
Basically in Bcci case they will be evil and biased for by haters whichever route they go

 

[Itachi]

Why is India refusing? Just being difficult, or do they have a concern?

India lacks experience of playing pink ball. So in a high stake series, it will be a great disadvantage even before the match starts.

 

[JaDed]

So let me get this straight, here is a guy who is a selector of a board which just cancelled a tour of Bangladesh due to financial viability, (which has no relation whatsoever with survival of test cricket?) is upset that India refused a day/night game?

Well said.

 

[RainMan_]

SIR, PLS stop. Ur board has just canceled the test series against Bangladesh