Day-Night Test cricket is no cricket at all, says Mitchell Johnson

Day-Night Test cricket is the new hot property in the market and different boards and broadcasters are seemingly enthused at the prospect owing to the rave reviews meted out by the spectators. However, Mitchell Johnson, the former Australian quick is on a different page and has come down hard on Cricket Australia for planning to host a day-night Ashes Test next year.

England will take on hosts Australia in a day-night Test match which will be held in Adelaide next December and Johnson is not entirely upbeat about the announcement. However, this announcement does make sense as the recently concluded Test between Australia and South Africa drew crowds in excess of 125,993 over the four days.

Johnson, however, believes that the game which is played under lights compromises many of the natural conditions.

"I'm not really happy about it. I just don't think it's Test cricket. It's a totally different game altogether. They change the wickets. Adelaide Oval in Test match cricket never has grass on it. But the two day-night Test matches that have been played there, there's been lots of grass on it,” Johnson said.

"As a bowler, I should be happy about it. Because it definitely brings bowlers into it. But to me, it's a change of a game. And I think it changes stats as well. So I just don't like it," he further added.

Even as Johnson speaks against the prospect, Australia are currently engaged in a day-night affair against Pakistan in Brisbane. This is the third occasion when a Test is being played under lights in the country. Off spinner Nathan Lyon also made a statement in which he categorically mentioned that the authorities should not overkill day-night cricket.

"I don't think we need to overkill it. It's been a great success down in Adelaide but I think it's quite important we leave Test cricket still a traditional game. We don't come in and overkill the pink ball. I am a big believer in trying to keep Test cricket as traditional as possible. I would hade to see a five Tese match Ashes series next year in pink ball.”

The opinion of the players notwithstanding, Cricket Australia is thrilled with the huge success of pink ball cricket as the audiences have lapped it in Adelaide. As the juggernaut now moves to Brisbane, it would be interesting to see the response of the people elsewhere in the country.