In a move that has infuriated the purists, the Cricket Board here is planning to introduce coloured clothing for the first day-night Test that pits England against Bangladesh next year.
According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, the match, to be played at Lord’s in May, may have cricketers sporting coloured kits as the administrators have so far failed to find a suitable replacement for the red ball, which is not visible under floodlights.
“If a white ball is to be used, the cricketers’ clothing must be some other colour,” the report stated.
The administrators have been experimenting with pink and orange balls but the results have not been all that encouraging.
The ECB’s plan has, however, already raised the hackles of traditionalists, who feel the move will destroy the sanctity of Test cricket at the very home of the game.
“I am one of the old school and I am all for the game being played in white. It is best to play at Test match in white and during the day,” said retired umpire Dickie Bird.
The newspaper said “there have already been in-depth discussions on the subject at two recent ECB committee meetings.” “John Stephenson, the head of cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), has been asked to move the initiative forward,” it added
