IND vs AUS: CA urge BCCI to play day-night Test in Adelaide during next tour

The low attendance at the Adelaide Oval on the opening day of the first India vs Australia vs India Test has worried Cricket Australia

The beginning of the Australian cricketing summer didn’t match to the expectation of Cricket Australia (CA). A modest 23,802 turned out for the opening day of the Test series in Adelaide on Thursday which turned out to be the lowest day-one attendance since the venue was redeveloped in 2013.

Following this low foot-fall, the CA urged India to reconsider their opposition to day-night Tests and play under lights in Adelaide in their next tour Down Under.

CA chief executive Kevin Roberts has agreed to the fact that they have lost a group of fans and stated that the fans have voted their wish with their feet.

“We are looking forward to the day-night Test coming back to Adelaide. We will take it one step at a time. We embrace that they (BCCI) have a different view of this Test match but we hope in time, with the sentiment from fans, we can have a day-night Test," said Roberts.

As stated by the CA, there were 55,000 for day one of the Ashes opener in Adelaide last year, 32,255 on the corresponding day against South Africa a year earlier and 47,441 for the first year against New Zealand, the CA stated.

Under current ICC rules, the touring team can deny the home board's fixture requests and India continues to reject playing with a pink ball, whether at home or on the road. As Australia played four Tests under lights, the BCCI felt the home side would have had an unfair advantage this summer if the Indians played with the pink ball here.

Roberts also raised fears about next week's Test (December 14-18) in Perth, claiming that the ticket sales have not been going too well despite this being the debut Test at the new Perth stadium where the capacity is 60,000.

However, the Western Australian Cricket Association has predicted a 40,000 turnout on day one of next week's Test -- with the third tier to be closed to the public in a bid to provide a greater vibe -- but Roberts appears to have cast doubt on that.