“I’ve actually been against it the whole time”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has voiced his opposition towards day-night Tests on the day that he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in Melbourne.
Australia and New Zealand will play the first-ever day-night Test in Adelaide at the end of next month, but while Ponting understands why day-night Tests are being trialled, he believes that it could ruin the history and tradition of the longest format of the game.
“I’ve actually been against it the whole time,” Ponting told reporters. “I mean I understand the reasons behind wanting to innovate and wanting to be different, but at the same time I think Test cricket is all about history and tradition as far as I’m concerned.
“But I guess the game has to go on and move forward. It will be interesting to see what the players make of it all and how much they enjoy the occasion. That’s what it comes down to at the end of the day, the players have to want to enjoy it and have to want to be a part of it and want to make it something extra special and let’s hope it works out that way.”
Earlier this week, Ponting gave evidence at the Chris Cairns perjury trial via video link. The ex-Australia skipper refused to comment about the trial, but feels that Cricket Australia have done an exceptional job in teaching players about the dangers of match-fixing. Ponting is also confident that the sport will continue to be monitored closely in the future.
“The way the game is it maybe does open itself up to more of that kind of thing because there is so much spot betting and so many things that you can bet on,” Ponting said. “Don’t worry, everyone is doing their absolute utmost to keep on top of that stuff, but as we know at the end of the day it’s the players, it comes down to the players.
“I know that everything that’s been done within Cricket Australia has been absolutely first class, we’d be leading the world in so far as that sort of education is concerned so all we can do is make sure that we keep doing the right thing and make sure we keep our players out of it all.”
Meanwhile, Ponting expressed his delight at being included in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, and said: “Something like this once you are retired it gives you a chance to sit back and think about all the things you were able to do and wins you were able to have and things like that.
“Even just coming here and sitting at the stands now and thinking about some of the great things that happened out there is nice. And I’ve done a little, I wouldn’t say research, but I’ve read up on the Sports Australia Hall of Fame and the history behind it and it’s a pretty select group of people or members that I’ve been inducted into.”