Proteas pacemen echo day-night concerns

South Africa fast bowlers Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada are not keen on playing a day-night Test in Australia unless they've had plenty of practice with the pink ball under lights in domestic cricket.
Proteas skipper AB de Villiers has already said the players are not eager to play the game in Adelaide under lights later this year, and the pacemen also feel that it's unfair to ask the Proteas to do so when Australia have significantly more experience.
The Aussies have played Sheffield Shield cricket with the pink ball for a while, and played the first and only day-night Test, against New ZEaland, last year. Philander, for one, doesn't think a single warm up game is enough.
Philander said: "If you are going there, you need to have experimented on the domestic front. We haven't done that so it would be a total blind eye going into it.
"I would like to have experimented before you actually go and do it. You have to try and test the pink ball properly.
"We are all professional players and I think sometimes people think we are quick to adapt to everything. As far as the pink ball is concerned, you are going to need a few games to get used to it.
"There are a lot of rumours of the ball being okay during the day and then at night being a bit difficult for batters."
Rabada was equally wary, but didn't rule it out, adding: "From what I hear, it's not a fair contest between bat and ball and that should be Test cricket.
"I haven't given it much thought but I wouldn't mind playing in it. I've heard good things and I've heard bad things. Perhaps they need to look into it more and perhaps make it a bit more fair.
The positive is that it brings crowds in. They need to find a way to balance the two, so that it's good for cricket and good for publicising the sport.
"You need to find a way to come to a fair conclusion where both parties are happy."
Latest
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day 2: Joe Root excels alongside Dan Lawrence
The England captain and his new team-mate added 173 to build England’s advantage.
-
News
Nine rookies in Pakistan squad for South Africa series
Pakistan have included nine uncapped players in their 20-man squad for the two-Tests against South Africa, starting on January 26.
-
News
Labuschagne upset after not scoring ‘big’ hundred
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne might have been the star of the show on the first day of the fourth Test against India.
-
News
Joe Root backs up plea for strong England start with century against Sri Lanka
The skipper had urged his team to impress from the word go and led by example with 168 not out in Galle.
-
News
Joe Root century strengthens England’s grip on first Test against Sri Lanka
Dan Lawrence hits 73 on debut as England reach 320 for four at tea, a lead of 185.
-
News
England captain Joe Root celebrates a century against Sri Lanka
Root brought up his 18th Test ton after being stranded on 99 at lunch in Galle.
-
News
Joe Root 99 not out at lunch as England look to build big advantage
Root and Test debutant Dan Lawrence have steered the tourists to a lead of 71 with seven wickets intact.
-
News
Heather Knight excited by freedom on offer after New Zealand quarantine
England Women will be able to break out of the coronavirus ‘bubble’ lifestyle in a country which has effectively contained the disease.
-
News
Sri Lanka v England day one: Tourists carve out dominant performance in Galle
The tourists skittled Sri Lanka for 135 then replied with 127 for two.
-
News
Stuart Broad and England in ‘dream world’ after superb first day in Sri Lanka
Broad took three wickets and Dom Bess five before Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow took England within eight runs of their hosts’ total.