Dew could be one of the biggest factors in the proposed day-night Test between India and Bangladesh in Kolkata next month.
According to reports, the Indian cricket board has sent a request to Bangladesh to play a pink-ball match at the Eden Gardens on November 22.
While there is no official confirmation of the Test yet, preparations have already started in Kolkata for the day-night match.
However, one of the biggest stumbling blocks could be the weather. Dew is a constant presence in the eastern part of India during evenings in winter and the ball generally gets soaking wet, making it difficult for bowlers to even grip the ball.
Visibility is already an issue with the pink ball under lights. With India and Bangladesh yet to play a Test in the evening, the lack of preparation plus the dew factor could be an issue.
"They [BCCI] have proposed a day-night Test and we will let them know," Bangladesh board cricket operation chairman Akram Khan was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. "We have received the letter and we will take a decision in this regard but we have not discussed about it. We will let them know about our decision within one or two days," he added.
Earlier, newly-appointed Indian board president Sourav Ganguly had called day-night Tests “the way forward”. He added captain Virat Kohli was on board with the idea.
"We all are thinking about this. We will do something about this," Ganguly was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. "I am a big believer in day-night Tests. Kohli is agreeable to it. I see a lot of reports in newspapers that he is not, but that is not true."
Also, Sujan Mukherjee – chief curator at Eden Gardens – said preparations have already started. “We are waiting for the final go-ahead now, but yes, we are expecting it to happen,” he said. “As such, there is nothing different for us to do. A pitch is a pitch, we are hoping to make it a sporting one, with some pace.”
