As long as dew does not become a factor, day-night Test is a good move: Sachin Tendulkar

Team India is all set to usher into a new era with a historic first when Bangladesh come visiting for a three-match Twenty20 International series followed by a couple of Test matches in Indore and the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The second of those Test matches will be a pink-ball Day-Night affair. This will be the first time that both these sides will play a Test match under floodlights.

The development has come after virtually no one turned up to see India shellack South Africa 3-0 in the recently concluded Freedom series for the Gandhi-Mandela Trophy. The Pink-ball Test is being seen as a step towards bringing the fans back to the stadiums and what better way to kickstart what Sourav Ganguly said “start of special things” than the iconic Eden Gardens.

But amidst all the excitement and euphoria surrounding the Day-Night Tests, there are apprehensions as to how the pink SG ball will behave under lights and also to what extent will dew play a part in the proceedings.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar has weighed in on the prospect of the Day-Night Tests. Tendulkar felt that D/N Tests are a great concept since it will allow the people to come in the evening and enjoy the game while also stating that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check how the pink SG ball behaves.

Dew could become a factor – Sachin Tendulkar

When the BCCI carried out trials of the pink balls during the 2015-16 season of the Duleep Trophy, a plethora of players who participated in the fixtures complained about the issues that they faced when the ball got wet thanks to prodigious dew. Ashish Kapoor had even likened it to holding a soap bar and Sachin Tendulkartoo reckoned that dew could be a deterrent factor.

“As long as dew does not become a factor, it is a good move but if dew is going to be a factor then seamers, as well as spinners, are going to find it challenging. Because once the ball gets wet, neither seamers can do much nor the spinners. So in that way, bowlers will be put under the test. But if there is no dew, then surely it is a good addition,” Sachin Tendulkar was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

In the past, we have seen dew play a big role in D/N One-day and T20Is at the Eden Gardens and the little maestro felt that it could once again play a big role in the Pink-ball Test.

“I think the dew factor will play a big role over here. We need to figure out how much dew is there. The dew will determine, to what extent both teams are competing. The conditions shouldn’t hinder anything (competitiveness),” noted the former Indian cricketer.

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