Du Plessis, Philander fancy more pink-ball Tests despite loss

Melbourne [Australia], Nov.28 (ANI): South Africa stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis has expressed his desire to see more pink-ball cricket at home despite losing their first day-night Test against Australia by seven wickets at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Although du Plessis admitted that the lights need to be upgraded dramatically in the country to suit the pink ball, he believes that it would add something different to the Test cricket. “The questions we had about day-night cricket were more skeptical and now we are not so much like that anymore. But there are positive signs. I would like to see it in South Africa. Obviously, the lights would have to be upgraded dramatically but it adds something different to Test cricket,”ESPNcricinfo was quoted du Plessis as saying.Due to the rising cost of electricity, stadiums in South Africa are reluctant to turn the lights on at the best of times. However, du Pelssis believes it is worth investing in the day-night format after pink ball’s display in Adelaide. Echoing similar views, South African pacer Vernon Philander said that although pink ball sometimes swing and turn a lot, he would also like to see his country’s domestic team playing with it a bit for future reference. Philander did not manage to gain much advantage by using pink ball, but he insisted that his side have a diverse enough attack to use it well.“Our attack now covers all bases and the guys have stepped up really well. With myself and Kyle Abbott upfront, we have seam and swing and then we have KG [Kagiso Rabada] with a bit of pace. It's wonderful to have all those varieties available to you but then it's also up to the captain to see how to use it,” said `Man of the Series` Philander,who bagged just two wickets in day-night match. As far as batting is concerned, Proteas opener Stephen Cook believes that patience is the key when facing the pink ball. “You can't get ahead of yourself with the pink ball. Once you start to chase things, you can come undone.If you look at Usman Khawaja, he stuck with his game plan from ball one to ball 300 and I tried to do the same thing. Just because I had 60, didn't meant I could take it to the attack,” said Cook, who scored 40 and 104 in the two innings in Adelaide. Despite the defeat in the day-night Test, South Africa managed to seal the three-match series 2-0 against the Steve Smith-led side. The Proteas won the opening two Tests by 177 runs and an innings and 80 runs, respectively.South Africa will now host Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series beginning on December 26 in Port Elizabeth.(ANI)