David Boon feels day-night Tests are the future of cricket and necessary for its evolution

Mumbai: Former Australian batsman David Boon feels the future of cricket lies in day and night Tests and suggested that this format should be encouraged wherever possible. “Yes I do (believe) day-night Test is the future of the game. I am quite for night (day-night) cricket and for the game to evolve to another level and include day-night cricket where it is applicable,” he told PTI by phone from Thiruvananthapuram. [caption id=“attachment_2995862” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of David Boon. Reuters[/caption] Boon is in India with a delegation from Tasmania which is in the country to promote tourism in the Australian state. The first day and might Test was played last year in November between Trans-Tasmanian rivals — Australia and New Zealand. In the game played at Adelaide Oval, where the pink ball was used, Australia defeated the Kiwis by three wickets within three days. In July-August, Australia lost 0-3 to an inexperienced Sri Lankan side in the island nation and Boon believes the Aussies needs to work on their errors before coming to India where the conditions are quite similar. “As an Australian yes you would be disappointed but the guys (have) something to work on and think positively moving into the future, learn from their errors made in Sri Lanka before they come to India and play in sub-continent conditions again,” the 55-year-old right-handed batsman said. Australia were thrashed by 106 runs at Pallekele in the series opener and then slumped to big defeats - by 229 and 163 runs in the second and third Tests at Galle and Colombo, receptively unable to counter the guiles of left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who grabbed 28 wickets at a measly 12 runs per victim. “I am sure the coaching staff will be working very hard on formulating game plans and learning from errors (made) in Sri Lanka. “From my personal (experience of playing) in the sub-continent, I can say the guys are going to accept the conditions that will be in all probability conducive to spin bowling and they have to formulate plans and execute those plans as a team to improve on their performance,” said Boon, who scored 7,222 runs in 107 Tests while playing for Australia in 1980s and 90s. Asked who is a better batsman among Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli, South African AB de Villiers, Aussie Steve Smith, Englishman Joe Root and Kiwi Kane Williamson, Boon quipped, “I wouldn’t rate any one of them. All are exceptional players and play in different ways. The key to those guys standing out is that they have been successful in all environments and across all formats of cricket.”