Why Ganguly is pushing for more day-night Tests

Former India skipper and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has said that holding one day-night Test in a series is important to get people back inside the stadiums.

Ganguly cited last year's India-Bangladesh pink-ball Test to highlight how that particular match managed to grab the eyeballs of spectators at the Eden Gardens.

"I think day-night Test, one match in a series, is important because cricket needs everyone back. We played the pink-ball Test in Kolkata and I do not think it was a normal India Bangladesh Test match," Ganguly told opening batsman Mayank Agarwal in a chat posted on the official website of BCCI.

"I hope the match would have gone on for five days, in just three days we managed to get 3,50,000 people into the ground," he added.

Ever since Ganguly took the charge as BCCI president, he has been vocal in bringing some innovation in the game and he was exceptional in making India play its first-ever day-night Test.

India and Bangladesh had played the pink-ball Test last year. The Virat Kohli-led side managed to win the match inside three days, however, on all the days of the match, the Eden Gardens was packed to the rafters.

Last year, the ICC had said that they are looking to bring in some changes in the longest format and the apex body suggested trying out four-day Test matches.

However, Ganguly has said that he is not a fan of this particular idea.

"I think innovation in every aspect of life is important. I am not a big fan of four-day Tests because I think a lot of matches would not finish then. You have five days, you approach it differently. I do not think there is any need to tinker with the Test format. For me, Test cricket is the best and toughest format," Ganguly said.

Later this year, India and Australia are slated to face each other in a four-match Test series. The second Test of the series at Adelaide will be a day-night Test contest.

The series is slated to begin from December 3 at Brisbane.