India vs Bangladesh: Dean Jones has a suggestion to deal with dew factor in day-night Test

The upcoming two-Test series between India and Bangladesh is gaining a lot of traction because of the fact that the second game of the series scheduled in Kolkata will be a day-night affair. After having opposed the idea of playing Tests under the lights, the new leadership of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revised its stance and wanted to play the pink-ball Test against the Tigers. Its Bangladesh counterpart agreed and now the two neighbouring countries are set to make history at the iconic Eden Gardens on November 22.

While history is in the making, the Test match is also in the discussion for the dew factor which is common in India in the winter. BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has assured that the challenge will be taken care of but the concern has remained. Now, former Australia cricketer Dean Jones has suggested the Test organizers that they should change the pink ball if gets wet to counter the ‘dew factor’ in Kolkata.

Ganguly has reportedly ordered 72 SG pink balls for the game although the Indian cricketers are yet to make the first use of the same. There are only two cricketers in the current Indian squad who have the experience of playing with the pink ball under the lights in a domestic tournament final and one of them — Wriddhiman Saha — said there was a concern in spotting the ball once it got old and dirty.

“It (the Day-Night Test) is a great initiative. The dew factor is a concern, there is no doubt about that. If the ball is wet, just change it,” Times of India cited reports as quoting Jones who is known for his straightforward views.

“The laws of the game have changed. For example, in (Sir Don) Bradman’s time, if the team made 200 runs, they got a second new ball. We are playing a night game, if the ball gets wet, just change the ball, it is as simple as that as far as I am concerned.”

Jones’ country became the first to play the day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide in 2015 that the hosts won by three wickets.

Pink-ball cricket is future of the game, feels Dean Jones

Jones said pink ball cricket is the future of the game because people have busy lives now. “I know that Sourav Ganguly (BCCI president) is a huge fan of night cricket, of Test cricket. Pink Ball cricket is huge and (it is) the future of the game because people’s lives have been busy,” the 58-year-old said.

Jones further said, “The ratings in Australia are massive and I cannot tell you how big it is compared to all the Test matches. People just find it very hard to watch Test cricket during the day because they are too busy.”

He also recalled the days when he played the yellow ball in five first-class games in Australia but did not have a problem with the new ball, saying “adapting” is the key.