WACA boss says Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval deserve to stage an India Test next summer
Perth - not Adelaide - is leading the race to feature a pink-ball clash against India in 2020, with broadcasting giants eager to prioritise prime time subcontinent audiences.
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Perth has emerged as frontrunner to follow a maiden day-night Test featuring New Zealand with a pink-ball clash against India next year as broadcasting giants prioritise prime time subcontinent audiences.
However, Western Australian Cricket Association chief executive Christina Matthews says the nation’s leading venues Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval deserve to stage an India Test next summer.
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Pink ball home Adelaide is being wedged at home and abroad.
Broadcasters are eyeing massive revenue in a Perth day-night Test and would pay Cricket Australia handsomely for the privilege.
Tim Paine’s men want to start the four-match Border-Gavaskar series in Brisbane where Australia hasn’t lost for 31 years, despite poor crowds.
“Perth is the ideal timeslot for Indian audiences. Indian and Ashes television rights are the two biggest returns for Australian cricket so it makes sense that could play into things,” Matthews told News Corp.
“Night time sport becomes the norm once you start doing it and outside of holiday time gives more people the chance to watch it. We are the only venue that got a victory against India last summer.”
South Australian Cricket Association chief executive Keith Bradshaw isn’t a fan of the pitching process for Tests.
Bradshaw notes record pink-ball attendances since 2015 mean Adelaide should host an India Test.
No state wants to host a one-off Afghanistan Test next November.
Matthews and SACA officials have warned against getting caught up in Australia’s 31-year unconquered record at the Gabba.
Brisbane attracted just 45,000 fans to the Pakistan Test series opener.
“There will be a process where they ask us to put a proposal in. Adelaide and Perth have the most modern stadiums and facilities and it seems ridiculous not to factor India Tests in to those stadiums,” said Matthews who is expecting a crowd of 100,000 in Perth next week featuring improved New Zealand.
“Yes, there are superstitions and grounds you like but our teams have to play well regardless of where they play.
“Australia beat India in Perth last year and won in three Ashes series here and would be every bit as good as Brisbane would be.”
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Curator Damian Hough’s lush Adelaide outfield and premier drop-in strips protect the pink Kookaburra ball.
Australia vice-captain Travis Head noted the pink ball “wasn’t great” during Australia’s A tour match against Pakistan in Perth where it went soft.
“I know the turf team has worked on different things and closely with Damian. Kookaburra will say it is the pitches’s fault, curators will say it is the ball and probably a combination of both,” said Matthews of Perth Stadium, the scene of Tim Paine’s first, crushing win as skipper against India last summer.
“If it was the wicket we would have soft balls every time we play. We were really happy last year with how the pitch played. Going to OPTUS stadium we have tried to ensure it is a fast, bouncy wicket.”
Australian legend Adam Gilchrist this week told News Corp that he hoped India would play a pink ball Test on Australia soil as it was “important to keeping cricket contemporary’.