BCCI to extend the pink ball trial for the 2nd India A v New Zealand A unofficial Test

The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to extend its pink ball experiment by using it in the second four-day game between the ‘A’ sides of India and New Zealand. But the match will be played during the day since the ground in Vijayawada, the venue which will host the unofficial Test match doesn’t have floodlights. The change was made in consultation with New Zealand Cricket (NZC). The hosts have won the first match handsomely as the visitors struggled and failed to cross even 150 in both the innings.

10 out of 14 members of the current ‘A’ squad featured in the Duleep Trophy opener, the tournament which is being played with the pink ball under lights. The board has received positive feedbacks from some of the cricketers though they have not planned to stage any day-night Test in India at International level. However, only Indian team has not played any Test match under lights thus far with Sri Lanka set to debut with the pink ball during their tour to UAE against Pakistan.

NZC approved the decision

New Zealand Cricket approved the decision as they felt that the early exposure to the pink ball against a “quality opponent” would help the players adjust ahead of their home summer. Also, six of the centrally contracted cricketers – Jeet Raval, Colin Munro, Matt Henry, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi and George Worker are in India right now with A squad. Hence the board was hopeful that the experience of playing with the pink ball would hold them in good stead ahead as Kiwis are set to host England in March next year in a day-night Test match.

The Black Caps will host their maiden Test match under lights at Eden Park in Auckland in 2018. Interestingly, they played the first ever day-night Test match in Adelaide against Australia in 2015. According to the board, the feedback from the players would also help them in implementing the trial of the pink ball in the Plunket Shield and in their build-up to the England Test.