Craig McMillan compares the first Day-Night Test to the first ever T20 international
New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan has compared the first Day-Night Test in Adelaide between Australia and New Zealand to the first T20 international, reports ESPN Cricinfo.
McMillan was part of the New Zealand squad which played the first T20 international against Australia in Auckland, way back in 2005. This time again, McMillan will be part of the historic Day-Night Test, featuring the same two teams, but he will watch the proceedings from the sidelines as the Kiwi batting coach.
The Kiwi batsman recalls the historic day when both teams thought the match to be a ‘joke’ and also the special ‘retro’ jerseys worn by both teams for the match. Fondly recalling that day, McMillan remarked how the players approached the game rather casually, but in good spirits.
“It was a different feeling, almost a carnival atmosphere. Perhaps it wasn't taken as seriously as what it should have been. No one had the inkling in eight years time it was going to be the norm and part of the calendar,” he recounted.
"That's why it's important we prepare properly and we look forward to this(Day-Night Test), because we just don't know in three or four years' time where cricket is going to head. I think it's important, as a sport, that we're always looking to encourage different groups, different people to come to the game, and this is certainly a way of doing that.”
When his side takes on Australia in the first ever Day-Night Test in Adelaide, McMillan will be aware of the uncertainity of the experiment invloving the use of pink balls, but remains optimistic and said there was a sense of excitement and curiousness in the dressing room.
"I don't know how the Australians are thinking, all I know is talk of 50,000 on the first day of a Test match, for us, is very exciting. We generally don't play in front of crowds like that in terms of Test cricket.
“There is a lot of excitement. We've heard a lot about the Adelaide Oval, its redevelopment and how it looks. Everyone we've talked to says what an amazing stadium it is.”
Talking about the second Test in Perth, where the Kiwis scored a ‘psychological’ win over their rivals, McMillan stated that confidence in the team was high, and hopes for similar performance from his team ahead of the historic Test.
"We're certainly more happy with our performance in the second Test than the first. I think guys have gained a lot of confidence individually and as a group from the performance in Perth.
“With this being a little bit of an unknown because it's a different situation - it's at night, it's a different ball - there's an excitement. I think there's not a lot between the two sides, so it all adds up to an exciting Test match ahead."