South Africa are concerned about their lack of experience with the pink-ball.
©REUTERS / Action Images
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South African players not in favour of day-night Test against Australia
The South African players’ association Chief Executive Tony Irish has disclosed that the Proteas are not in favour of playing the day-night Test against Australia due to lack of experience with the pink ball.
The day-night format of Test cricket uses a pink-ball instead of the traditional red ball to aid better visibility under the lights.
However, many players were apprehensive about the performance of the pink ball and had concerns over visibility and the ability of the ball to last the rigors of Test cricket.
The first-ever day-night Test was played between Australia and New Zealand in November 2015 and the crowd attendance for that match reached record numbers.
Based on the success of that match, Cricket Australia were considering hosting a day-night Test each against South Africa and Pakistan later this year.
Last week, Irish stated that the South African players were not against the idea of day-night cricket and their apprehensions were only due to having no match experience with the pink ball.
Irish also currently confirmed that the Proteas were hesitant about playing with the pink-ball for the very first time, especially in an important and high-profile tour of Australia.
“Our players are not in favour of playing the game under those conditions,” Irish told The Australian newspaper.
“The main reason is we feel disadvantaged.
“Not one of our players who will compete in that test has played test match cricket, or any cricket, with a pink ball.
“The reluctance to play is a sign of how much importance the South African players place on the series against Australia.”
South Africa recently slipped from the number one ranking in Test cricket after the series defeat against England at home, whereas Australia have claimed the pole position after the series win against New Zealand in February.
© Cricket World 2016
