Steve Smith responds to AB de Villiers' day-night Test claims
The chief executive of Cricket Australia James Sutherland remains confident that the third Test match between Australia and South Africa will be played with a pink ball. The proposed day-night Test match is scheduled to begin from 24 November at the Adelaide Oval.
Earlier, a few South African players, including the likes of AB de Villiers, had declared that they were against the idea of a day-night Test match. They opposed the idea because there are too many unknown factors regarding day-night Test cricket.
Last week de Villiers said that he had already spoken to various sources involved in the maiden day-night Test and they raised concerns about the idea. He also said that during a meeting with Steve Smith and some other Australian players the topic in contention was discussed.
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The South African said, “We had a meeting with Steve Smith and some of the Australian players when they toured here earlier this year and the consensus from our talks were that there are just too many unknowns, players from both teams were reluctant to go ahead with it.”
Steve Smith responds to AB de Villiers
However, Steve Smith contradicted de Villiers’ version of the conversation they had during Australia’s three-match T20I tour of South Africa last month. The Australian told Cricket Australia that he and his team are ready to take on the Proteas under lights.
The Australian captain also said that he shared his view with de Villiers during the brief conversation regarding the day-night Test. He also said that he endorsed the Adelaide Oval as the most suitable venue for day-night Test.
Smith said, “I know having spoken to them, a few of their older players were keen to experience day-night Test cricket before they finish playing. The feedback we gave them was that Adelaide is the best place to play it, in our opinion.”
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The 26-year-old cricketer also said that doesn’t know how de Villiers got the impression that Australian players were not in favour of a day-night Test and was surprised that the South African took his name in the matter.
“I don’t know where they’ve got their ideas from. If they wanted to play one we’d be happy to. I’m surprised that he named me”, Smith added.
The right-handed batsman reckons that the pink-ball concept can be improved over time. The only day-night Test match was played between Australia and New Zealand last year at the Adelaide Oval.