South Africa not keen on day-night Tests

Cricket South Africa has ruled out the possibility of playing day-night Tests during the tour of Australia later this year. Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa's chief executive, said his players weren't keen on the idea after the Australian board proposed it earlier in an effort to boost television audiences.

"I have mentioned it to the players but they did not sound particularly eager," Majola told Supercricket. "I don't think we'll fall in with the idea."

The South Africans aside, the innovation hasn't found favour with leading players like Australian captain 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 too joined the chorus, and felt that Test cricket wasn't in need of a makeover.

Majola added that the board was in favour of improving Test cricket but cautioned that any such innovations needed player approval first.

"I am not negative about the idea at all," Majola said. "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."