Proposal to extend Test hours rejected

Captains have universally rejected a proposal to play tight Test matches to a finish under floodlights, the International Cricket Council has revealed.

The ICC consulted teams on whether they would be willing to circumvent playing conditions and press on, even in worsening light, when a result was imminent on day five of a match.

It is a solution which would have prevented the scenes in Abu Dhabi at the end of last week's first Test between England and Pakistan, which saw play called off with the tourists needing only another 25 runs in eight scheduled overs.

But ICC chief executive Dave Richardson revealed Test captains across the board were not in favour of the idea, on the grounds that it could bring "unjust" conclusions.

England skipper Alastair Cook queried the decision to abandon play at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday, questioning whether - with the floodlights on but the desert dusk gathering - conditions were "unfair" or "unsafe" for either team.

However, Richardson made clear that the current protocol had been retained after player consultation.

"We have attempted in the past to say to the players: 'Look, if you've got floodlights and they're good enough to use for Test cricket, we should just bite the bullet'," he said.

"However, that approach wasn't accepted by any of the teams really. They felt that would be unfair, and could lead to unjust finishes."

When asked about reports that he had suggested the Test ball's future could be 'greeny-yellow' - to allow for it to be better seen under floodlights - Richardson said he was taken too literally.

"I was just talking about a different-coloured ball, and said 'pink, yellow, green, whatever' ... nothing specific but more with the principle of trying to develop a different-coloured ball that you can see in day-night conditions or under floodlights - and one that lasts the pace."

Meanwhile, the ICC is preparing for initial discussions with the International Olympic Committee about cricket's possible inclusion in future Games, and Richardson cited the aspiration to be "the world's favourite sport".