Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi, May 18
India must shed their apprehensions and embrace day-night Tests, seasoned spinner Harbhajan Singh said on Thursday. India have refused to play the Adelaide Test against Australia later this year under the lights, inviting criticism from Australian players, including Mark Waugh and Ian Chappell.
“I don’t know why they don’t want to play day-night Test matches. It’s an interesting format and we should try it. I am all for it,” said Harbhajan.
“What’s the apprehension about playing with pink ball? If you play, you can adjust. It may not be as difficult as it seems.”
Following the Indian team’s reluctance to play under the lights, BCCI’s Committee of Administrators took up the issue with Cricket Australia and the scheduled day-night Test was changed to a day game.
“I believe every team wants to win the series and that’s why we want to give our team the best possible chance,” CoA chief Vinod Rai said at a function on Thursday.
Harbhajan, though, feels the Indian team doesn’t need to be protected from Aussie pacers under the lights. “So what if you get out? We also have fast bowlers to trouble them. And what makes us think our batsmen can’t take up the challenge of facing Aussie pacers?” said Harbhajan. “It’s a challenge and what’s the harm in taking up a challenge. When we were new to Test cricket, we had bowled only with the SG balls, but gradually learnt to bowl with the Kookaburra and Duke balls.” “Don’t you accept the challenge of playing England in overcast conditions in their country? Isn’t that a challenge? If we could take up that challenge, why not pink-ball cricket?” he asked.
Despite backing the day-night Tests, the spinner doesn’t think the innovation could save the longest format. “Had it been so, it would have been introduced much earlier. But no harm playing pink-ball Tests from time to time.”
