The Ashes: England’s Joe Root questions need for pink-ball Test in Australia
Joe Root has questioned whether the Ashes need a pink-ball test as England prepare for a day-night clash with Australia in Brisbane.
Trailing 1-0 in the five-match series after the defeat in Perth, England will try to equalize the series at the Gabba, where they have not won since 1986, starting from Thursday.
Day-night Tests were approved by the International Cricket Council in 2015 in the hope that audiences would be “encouraged and improved”.
The concept was adopted in Australia. 13 of the 24 day-night tests to be played were held in this country.
Australia also has an outstanding record in day-night testing, winning 13 out of 14 worldwide tests. England won two of the seven matches, including three defeats in Australia.
Asked whether he believed the Ashes, cricket’s oldest competition, needed a day-night test, former England captain Root told BBC Sport: “Personally, I don’t think so.
“That adds to things. It’s successful and popular here. Australia has a good history here too. You can see why we’re playing one of these games.
“You know eventually, in two years, it’s going to be there. That’s an important part of making sure you’re ready for it.”
“Is there a need for a series like this? I don’t think so, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be here.”
Australia’s only defeat in the pink-ball test came on the previous day’s night at the Gabba, a shock defeat to the West Indies last year.
In 2017, a day-night Test was played in England against the West Indies.
Australia have traditionally held their floodlit Tests in Adelaide, events that have proven popular with fans.
Although the Ashes schedule for this tour has changed (Adelaide is the third Test in the series and is played during the day), the pink-ball Test has remained on the calendar.
The series opens with two matches available for prime time TV viewing on Australia’s east coast, starting in Perth in the west coast time zone and continuing with a day-night in Brisbane.
