Adelaide, with its ideal mix of pitch, climate and aesthetics, did a great job of blazing the day-night Test trail. But its blessings always were mixed. It might have made for more exciting games, but it also muted the carnival atmosphere for which the Adelaide Test was and is justly famous. By the time the nightlife begins, the night is half over – at least for the respectable. Head, who has urged SA Premier Peter Malinauskas to reassert Adelaide’s claim on day-night cricket, speaks for the rest – and right now with overwhelming moral authority.
Mitch Starc was man of the match in Perth.Credit: Getty Images
Day-night cricket is Australia’s domain. Of the 24 day-night Tests played to date, Australia have featured in 14 and won 13, losing only to the West Indies in Brisbane two years ago (and Shamar Joseph’s memorable winning spell in that match was bowled entirely in blazing daytime sunshine).
England’s record in day-night cricket is 2-5 and includes three thumping losses to Australia here. All things considered, it is a wonder England or India consent to play pink-ball Tests in Australia at all. I know, I know; there are contracts to be obliged and broadcasters to be propitiated. But it’s hard even to buy that there is an imperative to screen Test matches in prime time. Those who care will watch whenever it is on. Those who don’t will not watch anyway.
England opener Zac Crawley might be going from the frying pan into the fire.Credit: Getty Images
Without doubt, day-night cricket and its daily witching hour introduces another variable into a game of variables. You can argue about whether this is a good or bad thing. Sometimes, it adds to the frisson. Sometimes, it reduces the game almost to farce. When it was first played, Mitch Starc suggested it was almost another form of cricket, needing its own categorisation. In time, he has become measurably the most successful bowler in the format and has modified his outlook, but the observation stands.
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In a notional day-night match in Jamaica this year, Starc took 6-9 and Scott Boland took a hat-trick as the West Indies were shot out for 27 and Australian coach Andrew McDonald said it “it didn’t look like Test cricket”. Picking up his theme in his column in the West Australian last week, former tearaway Mitch Johnson wrote: “Pink-ball cricket under lights has never looked like real Test cricket to me. And regardless of whether it’s a pink Dukes ball or a pink Kookaburra, Test cricket would be better off without it.”
It won’t come to that. It would be pointless and reactionary to write off day-night cricket altogether. The way forward is not back. But just because we can stage day-night Tests doesn’t mean we always must. And for all the fun-of-the-fair spectacle it creates, it still pales beside the majesty of Test cricket in daylight glory. Besides, as well as being the colour of the sore, pink is also the colour of the overfed.
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