Australia vs Pakistan 2016-17: Nathan Lyon warns about overkill of day-night Tests
Australian off-spinner, Nathan Lyon, has requested to give more priority to day-Tests rather than "overkilling" day-night Tests. Australia are playing Pakistan in Brisbane in the second day-night Test of the summer, making it back-to-back pink-ball Tests after their contest against the Proteas in Adelaide.
The day-night Test at the Gabba starting today is the third one involving Australia and the fourth overall. The first ever day-night encounter was between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide and was followed up by a Pakistan-West Indies match in Dubai. Then Australia played South Africa in Adelaide last month and now take on Pakistan.
However, Australian spinner, Lyon doesn't seem too impressed with the idea of day-night Tests being promoted extravagantly by CA as he openly stated that despite its success, overdoing it will not help the cause.
"I don't think we need to overkill it," Lyon said. "It's been a great success down in Adelaide but I think it's quite important we leave Test cricket still a traditional game. We don't come in and overkill the pink ball. I know the game's moving forward but I'm a big believer in trying to keep Test match cricket as traditional as possible with the odd pink ball game.
“I'd hate to see a five Test match Ashes series next year all pink ball."
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A day-night Ashes Test is also in the offing in 2017 in Adelaide and there is the possibility of Cricket Australia pushing for one more day-night affair next summer apart from the Ashes day-night Test.
One reason behind CA pushing for day-night Tests could be the attendance. Adelaide witnessed a record attendance for non-Ashes Tests in the match against South Africa last month.
Adelaide has already hosted two day-night matches and Australia are thrilled by the amount of crowd turning up for Tests, making it an occasion akin to celebrations for New Year.
That said, the pink ball needs more improvement and so does the whole concept of day-night Tests. It has vastly improved since the inaugural match against New Zealand where the ball swung uncontrollably and made life difficult for batsmen. Since then, the seam has changed to black from white, which has helped visibility.
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In the Test against South Africa, more grass was shaved off and the pink ball withstood the test, helping seam bowlers and batsmen, and also taking turn as Day 3 and 4 arrived. Faf du Plessis and Usman Khawaja recorded hundreds proving that with the right application runs could be scored.
Lyon bowled a terrific spell at the end of Day 3, beating Quinton de Kock, who was new to the crease, thrice in succession.
"I do like the concept," Lyon said. "I think the ball has improved from last year but I think there is still room for improvement there and I know Kookaburra is working hard on that."
After initially showing reluctance to accept the concept, many cricketing nations are trying to include day-night matches at the domestic level to ease into the concept.