India's 500th TestPink ball not the way to save Test cricket, says Sachin Tendulkar

KANPUR: How to get in the crowds in, day-and-night format, pink ball, better wickets all that was on top of the minds of India's cricketing greats, past and present, on the eve of

India's 500th Test

to be played here from Thursday, 84 years after CK Nayudu led the Indian team in England on June 25, 1932. "Personally, I do not like idea of playing with a pink the idea of playing with a pink ball. A lot of adjustments are being made and I feel the pink ball isn't a good idea," said Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar was a part of a star-studded panel of former captains that included Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar, Krishnamachari Srikanth, Ravi Shastri and Sourav Ganguly, all of whom had gathered here to mark the historic occasion. Present captain Virat Kohli was a part of the panel too. And, in the audience were Sunil Gavaskar and

Mohd Azharuddin

.

"I am not sure how the pink ball will respond to evening dew. Pitches in different parts of the world behave in different ways. Like Durban has a different surface when the sun goes down. Possibly, a better way is to have wickets that favour bowlers equally," said Sachin.

Shastri seconded Sachin, saying, " I agree with every bit of what Sachin said. Dew is a major factor. The way is to have a better balance between batting and bowling."

"Test matches will be interesting and will draw the crowds if we ensure better wickets. In England and Australia, Test cricket still sees a full house. You have to make good quality wickets," said Dilip Vengsarkar.

" Good wicket, good marketing, competitive cricket, all of these need to be done," felt ICC CEO Daeve Richardson.

"As cricketers, we often forget where we are taking the game. But, today's generation knows how to ensure that the crowds come in. In those days, we never thought this way. However, these youngsters will have to work extra hard to ensure that people watch Test cricket in large numbers," said Kapil.

For India captain Virat Kohli, Test is the "most important format of the game still."

Sitting alongside the greats of Indian cricket, Kohli said: We will keep Test cricket where it belongs. We will try our best to take the legacy forward."

Gavaskar taught us professionalism: Kapil

Speaking on the eve of India's 500th Test, Kapil Dev was all praise for Sunil Gavaskar, calling him the "first person who motivated cricketers to be professionals." "Test cricket had its earlier decades to tottering as it moved ahead. It was Gavaskar who instilled professionalism. In our time, we would play for fun but Gavaskar taught us what it means to be playing for a living," said Kapil, as Gavaskar sat in the audience.