January 18, 2008	Friday	Muharram 08, 1429

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 17: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has ruled out the possibility of playing day-night Test matches during their trip to Australia later this year.

Gerald Majola, CSA Chief Executive, said his players weren’t eager on the idea after the Australian authorities suggested it earlier in an attempt to increase TV audiences.

“I have mentioned it to the players but they did not sound particularly eager,” Majola said. “I don’t think we’ll fall in with the idea.”

The South Africans aside, the innovation hasn’t found favour with frontline players like Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who raised the issue of the batsmen struggling to pick the red ball under lights.

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming also felt that Test cricket didn’t need any change.

Majola added that CSA was in favour of developing Test cricket but cautioned that any such innovations needed player support firstly.

“I am not negative about the idea at all,” he insisted. “I am in favour of anything that will enhance Test cricket. However, there are objections and questions which have to be answered. Dew in the evening may make it difficult. People have also asked whether one ball will be used throughout or whether the teams will use two balls of different colours; one for the day and one in the evening.”—Agencies