Day/night test idea unlikely soon in absence of suitable ball

Sydney, Sep 11 (ANI): The idea of day-night Test between England and Bangladesh next year is unlikely to proceed because a suitable ball is yet to be developed.

The idea of day-night Tests was floated by the lawmakers of the game, the MCC, at a World Cricket Committee meeting at Lord's in July to enhance the profile and appeal of the long format.

There is no indication to suggest that how much time it would take to develop the right ball, even as the England and Wales Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board would be happy to play the first ever day-night Test.

Researchers have been working on balls that could be used for day-night Tests, although testing on a pink version has uncovered excessive movement and grip issues that have made prototypes too dangerous to trial in matches, while the colour also wears off quickly.

With England's domestic season concluding this weekend, there will be little opportunity to trial a day-night Test ball before the series against Bangladesh next year. And the ICC will not allow a ball to be used in a Test before it is used successfully at domestic level.

Other issues also remain unresolved, such as the colour of players' uniforms and how playing conditions could be affected by the changes in light, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. (ANI)