Ian Botham slams 'ridiculous' English day/night Test

Johannesburg [South Africa], Nov. 1 (ANI): Hitting out at the 'appalling' prospect of a first day/night Test in England, former England all-rounder Ian Botham has said the 'ridiculous' plan has a risk of damaging cricket's flagship format. Last month, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had announced that Edgbaston will host the first day/night Test ever staged in Britain when England face the West Indies at the Birmingham venue in August next year. "It's ridiculous. I think it's appalling," Sport24 quoted Botham as saying in an interview, adding, "Test cricket is the flagship. You cannot play day/night Test cricket in England because the difference between bowling in the day time, and bowling in the evening, it's unfair." England will become the third nation to host a day/night Test, following Australia's clash against New Zealand in Adelaide last year and Pakistan's recent encounter with the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates. The officials of the ECB officials are off the view that a later start would encourage those who are at work during the day to attend. But the former England captain is amazed at the prospect saying, "I am amazed we are going ahead with it." "We do well (with crowds) in Tests in England. The first three days are certainly usually sold out. They are going to do it, so we will all sit back and watch," he added. The inaugural day-night Test took place between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval last year, which went on to pull record number of crowds and huge television viewership. Despite skippers Steve Smith and Alastair Cook both suggesting the Ashes should remain a red-ball contest, Cricket Australia and the ECB remain in negotiations about playing a day-night Test the following summer. (ANI)