Cricket Australia want to host India for two pink-ball Tests

As per the latest developments, Cricket Australia is trying to convince the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get India to play more than one day-night Test on their tour of Australia in 2020-21.

India had turned down the possibility of playing a pink-ball Test in their previous tour to Australia last year, but, following the success they had in their maiden day-night Test against Bangladesh in Kolkata last month, CA has made the proposal once again.

“Pleasingly they’ve played their first day-night Test and won easily. Now they’ve got through that it might give them the right build-up to it over here,” said Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings.

“I’ve got no doubt they’ll consider playing one and maybe even more day-night Test matches. But that’s down the track to when we catch up with them in January,” he added.

Newly elected BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, in his response, looked eager towards more day night Tests. “When we tour, we will deal as per the request of the [host] board,” said Ganguly.

CA officials will meet the BCCI during the ODI series between India and Australia in January to discuss the day and night Tests. Australia also want to play a five-Test series against the top-ranked team in the ICC rankings.

“Still working through that, it’s a normal tour in that they’re playing four Test matches, we’ve got one against Afghanistan,” Earl Eddings said. “Ideally we want to be playing five Tests against India, hopefully in the future, we can do that as well.”

The pink-ball Test in Eden Gardens saw a full house, with fans wholeheartedly welcoming the game under the floodlights. The game ended in three days, with the hosts winning it convincingly. Virat Kohli scored a fine century and also became the first Indian cricketer to score a century under the lights.

Places of interest in Kolkata were illuminated pink to bring interest in the game. The refund for tickets that were bought for Day 4 and 5 was also made.