Cricket Australia boss heaps praise on Black Caps

Doug Bracewell of New Zealand prepares to bowl with the pink ball. Photo / Getty

New Zealand Cricket has won praise from outgoing Cricket Australia boss Wally Edwards ahead of the three-test series starting next week.

In particular, former test opener Edwards highlighted NZC's approach towards the inaugural pink ball day-night test as he stepped down as CA's chairman at yesterday's annual meeting in Melbourne.

"New Zealand Cricket is in a very imaginative and dynamic stage. They're very progressive," Edwards said.

"They modified their board 10 or 15 years ago, they understand the need to get test cricket refreshed. They've spoken passionately about it at (the) International Cricket Council."

Edwards also admitted CA had been at fault for the lack of transtasman international fixtures in recent years - "that was really our fault too. We let that slip".

Edwards, denying NZC was wary of wanting a closer relationship and only signed the deal for the pink ball test due to pressure, said NZC understood the key was people coming through the gate and watching the game on TV.

"If you haven't got that, it's going to be very hard (for test cricket to be viable) long, long term."

Edwards' successor is David Peever, who was appointed Rio Tinto Australia managing director in 2009.

CA chief executive James Sutherland has also scotched once and for all any idea of the pink ball being swapped for a traditional red bal in the third test in Adelaide late next month.

The Australian Cricketers Association is one body who has raised the notion that it's not too late to change, given player concerns over the ability of the pink ball to stay in good condition for long enough.

Sutherland said it is "a bit late" to reschedule the test and the day-night move is necessary to reinvigorate test cricket.

"It's about trying to make sure that test cricket retains its currency and relevance in a rapidly changing, competitive world," Sutherland said.

He said manufacturer Kookaburra had put huge effort into the development of the pink ball and he was undeterred by recent comments from players questioning its durability.

"I was more concerned about criticism a couple of years ago, or observations a couple of years ago when we were really testing," he said. "We have been through a really rigorous process ... as (Kookaburra managing director) Brett Elliot said earlier this week, more work has gone into preparing this pink ball than any ball in the history of the game."

The latest Australian player to slag off the pink ball is Queensland fast bowler Ben Cutting, who said the ball lost its shine and went soft more quickly than the white ball.

"As a batting team if you get through those first couple of overs and negate the swing, you're going to do pretty well," Cutting said. "From what I've seen in this game (Queensland against Victoria) it's a lot softer than the white ball. I will be very surprised if the ball didn't get changed at some stage."