TNI Bureau: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday gave its seal of approval to day-night Test matches. However, the ICC left it to the member Boards to decide on the type and colour of the ball to be used in the new format of the longer version of cricket match.
“Participating countries may agree to play day-night Test matches. The home and visiting Boards will decide on the hours of play, which will be six hours of scheduled play per day while the two Boards will also decide on the precise brand, type and colour of ball to be used for the match,” the ICC said in a statement.
The ICC also announced a slew of changes in the playing conditions, including powerplays, fielding restrictions and short-pitched deliveries in the ODIs, Decision Review System (in Tests and ODIs), no-ball, dead ball, over-rates, applicable in all the formats and changes in One Over Per Side Eliminator in T20 Internationals.
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As per the ICC statement, the new playing conditions for Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals will come into effect with the series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, which starts in Pallekele on Tuesday, October 30.
As of now, audiences for Test cricket remain healthy in England but elsewhere, and particularly in India, crowds have declined considerably as people prefer more exciting shorter games like IPL.
Some countries, including Australia and England, have been experimenting with day-night Test matches for some time now and with the ICC’s decision, the longest format of the game may be played under lights with more enthusiasms.
However, it is remain to see how the cricket lovers will accept such initiatives