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Ricky Ponting speaks out against day-night Tests

Ricky Ponting feels day-night Tests are against the traditions of the game

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has spoken out against the day-night Test which is to take place in Adelaide between Australia and New Zealand from November 27, reported ESPNcricinfo.Ponting who was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame this week revealed that he was always against Cricket Australia’s initiative of playing day-night Tests with the pink ball.

On a day when West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers voiced his support for the day-night Test initiative, Ponting revealed that his thoughts were quite the contrary. He believes Test match cricket should remain the purest possible contest between bat and ball while the other two formats serve as entertainment and can be played as night-time events.

"I've actually been against it the whole time," Ponting said. "I mean I understand the reasons behind wanting to innovate and wanting to be different, but at the same time I think Test cricket is all about history and tradition as far as I'm concerned.”

The Tasmanian also went on to add that it would be interesting to see how players handle the situation and if they enjoy the new challenge.

"But I guess the game has to go on and move forward. It will be interesting to see what the players make of it all and how much they enjoy the occasion. That's what it comes down to at the end of the day, the players have to want to enjoy it and have to want to be a part of it and want to make it something extra special and let's hope it works out that way," said Ponting, who is the second highest run-getter in Test history. 

Speaking at a press conference, Ponting also said that he would like to see some changes in the Australian batting order with youngsters coming into the team, after some of the older players retired at the end of the Ashes tour this summer.

Ponting also predicted that captain Steven Smith could drop down to No. 4, with Usman Khawaja coming up at No. 3 and West Australian Cameron Bancroft opening the batting alongside David Warner.

Ponting revealed his pride on being inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside the likes of fellow Tasmanian’s David Boon, Richie Benaud and Dennis Lillee.

"Something like this once you are retired it gives you a chance to sit back and think about all the things you were able to do and wins you were able to have and things like that," he said.

Punter went on to add that it felt great sitting in the stands and looking back at a career during which he achieved various milestones.

"Even just coming here and sitting at the stands now and thinking about some of the great things that happened out there is nice. And I've done a little, I wouldn't say research, but I've read up on the Sports Australia Hall of Fame and the history behind it and it's a pretty select group of people or members that I've been inducted into," Ponting said.

  

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