Report: Cricket Australia wants India to play two Day-Night Tests next summer

India vs Australia is one of the biggest draws, especially Test cricket. The rivalry built on the constant back and forth among two cricketing powerhouses and some controversies in between has consistently provided enthralling contests.

Virat Kohli’s No.1 ranked Test side in the world is set to travel Down Under and resume their rivalry in the traditional four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy in November 2020 and if the reports are to be believed, the four-match rubber could well turn out to be the first-ever series to stage two day-night Test matches.

While Melbourne and Sydney are expected to host the traditional Boxing Day and New Year Tests respectively, two of Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide Oval will be in contention for the two Day Night fixtures. While nothing has been finalized yet, according to a report published in ESPNCricinfo, a Cricket Australia delegation, led by chairman Earl Eddings, is all set to meet the BCCI administration on the sidelines of the three-match ODI series between the two teams in mid-January.

“Negotiations have not yet begun, but we’ll mention that when we’re over there in January talking during the one-day series. As you build that trust and build that relationship you have that chat.” Eddings said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

Earl Eddings wants India-Australia to play five-match series

Following a successful staging of the Pink ball Test in Kolkata, one that saw the Men in Blue claim a convincing win over Bangladesh, Kohli had said that he was “open to anything” given there were enough practice games in place prior to the event. Then, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly had reckoned that “When we tour, we will deal as per the request of the [host] board”. Cricket Australia will make that request now.

“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. 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.” said Eddings.

India and Australia have been involved in a plethora of pulsating encounters over the years. Barring the famous 2001 series which was of three matches and the two-match Test rubber in 2010, both sides have featured in the four-match series. However, Eddings now wants India and Australia to lock horns in a five-match rubber, much like what England are doing since 2014.

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