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Rediff.com  » Sports » Ind, Aus could soon host day-night Tests: Morgan

Ind, Aus could soon host day-night Tests: Morgan

Last updated on: May 19, 2010 11:32 IST

Image: ICC president David Morgan
Photographs: Reuters

ICC president David Morgan on Monday said he is hopeful of day-night Tests being played in either Australia or India in the near future.

The ICC chief said it "won't be too long" before day-night Tests will see the light of day and he also said a "context" for Test and one-day international matches was on its way.

"I talked to administrators in Australia whom I expected to be so conservative as to be against day-night Test cricket but they are very much for it and I believe it won't be too long before we see day/night Test cricket in Australia or India," Morgan said.

One complaint is that too many Tests, as well as One-dayers, lack "context". Although the ICC has introduced a Test table, its complex rating system has so far failed to excite much interest.

Morgan, who will soon leave his post and be succeeded by India's Sharad Pawar said: "Our chief executives' committee has been looking at producing a context for both ODI cricket and Test match cricket so watch this space.

"Enriching ODIs and Tests are two major opportunities, and I have little or no doubt the game will embrace those fairly quickly."

'I feel sad for Pak cricketers'

Image: Pakistan cricket team

Morgan added the biggest regret of his term as president, which expires within weeks, was Pakistan becoming a no-go area for international cricket following the armed attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore last year.

"I feel sad for the people of Pakistan and for the cricketers in Pakistan," he said.

"Pakistan has produced some of the most stylish cricketers in the last couple of decades - Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.

"It's a country we need to continue to be producing fine cricketers, a bit like the Welsh (rugby union) 'outside-half factory," the 72-year-old Welshman added. "When these things cease to flow, the game is a great deal poorer."

On the recently concluded World Twenty20, where England beat Australia by seven wickets in the final in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday, Morgan said: "I think this tournament has gone wonderfully well."

A key to its success was that home fans were not priced out of matches.

"Accessibility for local people is important. It's absolutely crazy to be pricing tickets in excess of a week's wages for people and that was the sort of thing that was happening at the last World Cup."

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