By Phil Lutton From The Sydney Morning Herald

Smith: day-night Test ‘a great spectacle’
Australia captain Steve Smith believes the first-ever day-night Test was a huge success following their victory over New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval.
As the wider world digests the Adelaide Test, West Indies great Courtney Walsh believes the pink ball could rekindle the fire of Caribbean Test cricket as the region begins the long climb back towards the elite of the sport.

A young West Indian side had its first training session in Australia on Monday, sweltering in stifling Brisbane humidity where they will play a tour game before heading to Hobart, a far cry from the conditions they will experience in Queensland.

Walsh is a travelling selector and had one eye on the occasion in Adelaide, widely celebrated as a success given the crowd, ratings and equalisation of bat and ball, even if it did finish in three days.

Once a powerhouse of the five-day game, the Windies now find themselves ranked ahead of just Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on the official ICC rankings. They have been installed at the staggering odds of $16 to win the first of three Tests against Australia.

At home, Test cricket has flagged badly, with crowds on the islands far keener on T20, a format which has deprived this young touring side of some of its bigger names as the likes of Chris Gayle prefer the bright lights and fatter pay packets of the BBL.

Walsh has been highly enthused by what he saw in Adelaide, not just because as a former fast bowler he finally saw some parity between bat and ball, with neither batting side able to bully the attack as the ball played subtle tricks in virtually every session.

He believes the format could be exactly what the West Indies needs to bring some life back to Test match cricket and crowds back through the gates as the sport struggles for traction with supporters, let along top-tier players.

“It could (do that). It would be amazing at night. Based at what we saw in Adelaide, they (crowds) stayed and supported it. I’m happy to see that happened,” Walsh said.

“I would love to see that happen (day-night Test in the West Indies). For us, because of the work and the economy, we might get more support to come and watch cricket at night. I’d love to see them give it a try.”

If done properly, a night Test somewhere like Barbados or Antigua could be one of the great occasions in world cricket. West Indians fans are noted for their partying in the stands and often stay until midnight celebrating at a regular game. Walsh said they could simply stay all night if given the chance.

Walsh has been joined by fellow great Curtly Ambrose – a bowling ‘consultant’ – on the tour and his eyes lit up at the mere suggestion of he and his former partner in crime steaming to bowl in with a swinging pink ball at 9pm.

He said he was simply heartened to see bowlers not have to fruitlessly bend their backs on flat decks while being flayed around the park by batsman wielding blades of willow the size of telephone poles.

“I’m just happy to see what’s happening with the pink ball. It was good to see a contest between bat and ball that’s a little bit more even, not just flat placid wicket where the batsman dominate and the bowlers have to toil hard,” he said.

“There was something for the bowlers in every session. For me, that’s a good even contest. It’s good to see they had something to do.”

The Windies play a tour match at Brisbane’s Allan Border field against a Cricket Australia XI from Wednesday but could well be playing under lights at the Gabba in the near future, with the venue almost certain to host a pink ball Test next summer.

IMAGES:
Courtney Walsh of the West Indies celebrates a wicket. Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Allsport
Think pink: West Indies captain Jason Holder during a practice session in Brisbane on Monday. Photo: Dan Peled

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/pink-ball-could-cure-the-ills-of-caribbean-test-cricket-says-courtney-walsh-20151130-glbhkd.html#ixzz3t58OpV00