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Lights, cameras and distractions
India's request to have the semi-final at Durban changed from a day/night into a daytime fixture has reopened the debate about floodlit cricket.
India's request to have the World Cup semi-final at Durban's Kingsmead ground on March 20 changed from a day/night into a daytime fixture has reopened the debate about floodlit cricket.
According to critics, the team batting second is at a huge disadvantage as the increased dew on the pitch and heavier atmosphere makes for a livelier surface with pace bowlers gaining extra nip off the deck and greater swing in the air.
But the record at Kingsmead suggests otherwise.
In 16 day/night one-day internationals there, seven have been won by the team batting first, seven by the team batting second, with one tie and one no-result.
However, India captain Sourav Ganguly is convinced the toss could prove decisive.
"There is no doubt that under lights the pace bowlers have an edge. In day-night games the toss is very crucial," said Ganguly whose side beat England by 82 runs under the Kingsmead lights in the preliminary round after batting first.
England skipper Nasser Hussain, who has since resigned his one-day post following the team's first round exit, agreed: "Conditions did alter, the ball did start to zip off.
"That's not an excuse," added Hussain, whose team beat Pakistan after batting first in a floodlit match at Newlands. "We were lucky at Cape Town and unlucky today."
By contrast, reigning champions Australia seem more relaxed about playing in a floodlit match at Kingsmead than they do a day semi-final at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth.
Although they went through the group stage with a perfect winning record, Australia were given a scare at Port Elizabeth before scraping home by two wickets in the last over against England.
And captain Ricky Ponting, whose side will return to Port Elizabeth for a World Cup semi-final if they finish first or fourth in the Super Sixes, was bitterly criticial of the St George's Park pitch.
"I thought the wicket was pretty slow. Hopefully games will not be decided by the toss of a coin. Hopefully when we come back here there will be more pace in the pitch."
And as for playing under lights, Ponting was far more relaxed. "About this time last year at Durban we chased about 270-odd and got them for two wickets. The conditions weren't a problem that night."
