Former Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson has slammed the decision to play a day-night Ashes match next year, saying the pink ball test is a “totally different” game.
England will play Australia in a Test under the lights for the first time at the Adelaide Oval in the second match of the 2017-18 Ashes series, it was announced this week.
Johnson, who retired ahead of the inaugural day-night Test in Adelaide last year, thinks the Ashes series generates enough interest and ticket sales without any added novelty.
“I’m not really happy about it. I just don’t think it’s test cricket,” Johnson said. “It’s a totally different game altogether. They change the wickets. Adelaide Oval in test match cricket never has grass on it. The two day-night Tests that have been played there, there’s been lots of grass on it. As a bowler, I should be happy about it. Because it definitely brings bowlers into it. But to me, it’s a change of a game. And I think it changes stats as well. So I just don’t like it.”
Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland has been a driving force behind the day-night game and has told Australian cricket fans they can soon expect two home pink-ball Tests every year.
{{/usCountry}}Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland has been a driving force behind the day-night game and has told Australian cricket fans they can soon expect two home pink-ball Tests every year.
{{/usCountry}}The Australian Cricket Board announced the fixtures for the 2017/18 Ashes series. Australia will play five Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 tri-series involving New Zealand. A total of four Pink Ball Tests have been played so far.