Day-night matches will help Test cricket endure adversities: Rahul Dravid

Mumbai: Day-night Test cricket will help preserve the longer version of the game, believes India legend Rahul Dravid.

The former India captain, who coached the junior national side that made it to the final of the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, earlier this year, termed the day-night Tests a success.

“I’m quite happy to see that the day-night Test matches have been a huge success,” Dravid said at an event in Mumbai.

“Having been part of the MCC world cricket committee, and having looked at this issue and debated about it, and having looked at the development of the pink ball and how much work has gone into it, I think it’s been fantastic.”

The former batsman, who has been nicknamed ‘The Wall’ due to his tenacious style of batting, feels that Indian cricket fans have not lost interest in Test cricket. Rather, it is realistically difficult for people to watch day matches on weekdays.

“People still love Test cricket, but I think realistically it's becoming harder and harder to be able to tell your boss that I want to take five days off because I want to watch a Test match,” said Dravid. “You’re probably not going to have your job when you walk back.”

Dravid believes that Test cricket needs to adapt to the changing times, and make it more convenient for people to view the sport.

“We need to try and protect Test cricket, I think it’s a great game, and it’s a game that has endured a couple of world wars, and it’s endured a famine.”

However, ‘The Wall’ took heart from the fact that the Indian fans have shown a liking for Test cricket during a time when the national side is playing 13 matches in a season.

“It’s great to see that India are playing 13 Test matches this year, and you’ve already seen the level of interest,” he said.