Pros and cons of a pink ball test in India

The Black Caps look set to play another pink ball test. Picture / Getty Images

India are talking about hosting a day-night test against New Zealand during their tour to the game's most powerful country in October.

So what are the pros and cons of the idea?

Pros:

1: Another country embracing the idea of pink ball test cricket. So far there's only been one test played under lights - New Zealand's loss in Adelaide last December - but Pakistan are playing Australia at Brisbane in a day-nighter in December. They are coming and India are front-footing the idea.

2: Don't be fooled by the notion of Indian grounds being routinely packed for test matches. They aren't, unless it's Australia visiting. India may have mighty cricket wealth, but empty stands are a bad look no matter the size of your bank balance. They need bums on seats and the idea of turning up after a day's work has appeal for them just as it does for other countries.

3: If New Zealand agree to the proposal, and there's much discussion to be had first, it won't be a bad thing for New Zealand Cricket. They are seen as a progressive country, in the sense they were happy to play the Adelaide test to get the concept off the ground. Having other, more powerful countries taking an upbeat view of dealings with New Zealand could have significant spinoffs.

Cons:

1: Abrasive pitches are a disaster for the pink balls. Abrasive pitches are not, ahem, uncommon in India. Newer model balls are still being developed, but they don't react well when the surfaces are rough. Worse still, pitches akin to the shameful Nagpur strip for last year's test against South Africa - all over inside three days; 12 wickets on day one, 20 on day two, offspinner Ravi Ashwin finishing with 12 for 98 - would render the exercise pointless.

2: Evening dew would be a concern, although evidently there is a substance which can be sprayed on the ground to limit the amount of damp. The complaint during the Adelaide test was that once the lights kicked in, batting became significantly more difficult. The latest model pink ball has had its stiching changed to black, which has seemed to show up better, in batsmens' eyes, than its predecessor. The Adelaide pitch has more grass than usual left on it to cushion the wear and tear effects of ground on ball, something Indian officials would need to bear in mind.

3: Visiting teams would fear a stitch-up - a mix of poor pitch preparation combined with the difficulties of coping with a pink ball under lights - and would take some convincing. Not all Indian grounds have top quality floodlighting and some Indian Premier League venues would not pass International Cricket Council muster for tests, in the same way Napier's McLean Park is not up to scratch, whereas Seddon Park and Eden Park are. Then again, it would be in India's interests to prepare the best quality pitch possible. The location is key. Pitches in Hyderabad differ markedly from, say, Delhi, and again from, say, Kolkata.

4: Bad viewing time in New Zealand. Assuming the test would start around 2pm local time, that will have the first interval - drinks for 20 minutes - arriving just before midnight in paradise. No good.