TECHNICAL director of Jamaica’s cricket, James Adams, supports the move by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to use new methods to enhance interest in the new regional first-class season.

The WICB recently announced that the first round starts on January 8 and that this season will include unprecedented day/night matches, along with the use of pink balls.

It was also announced that one territory will host an entire round of matches to alleviate team travelling and accommodation expenses.

Due to dwindling interest in the regional four-day game in recent years, the former West Indies skipper said he understands the Board’s decision to try new methods.

“Everybody around the world is trying to do what they can to see if there is an answer to bringing more people through the gates for the levels below the international level, and in view of that I support that effort,” Adams said.

The fortmer left-handed batsman was happy that the new strategy is intended to be implemented on a trial basis to encourage feedback and further improvement if necessary. “People may try things that you may think are outside of the box, but until you try, you won’t know, and the method that is being used here is in a controlled fashion. It’s not as if the whole tournament is a day/night tournament. Let’s see what comes out of it,” he added.

Adams’ comments were echoed by those of the Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Cricket Association, Diyal Fernando, who asserted that changes made by the WICB were influenced by suggestions from the world governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“The point is, we have to go with trends and if we’re not the drivers of the trend… if the trend is being driven internationally, you can’t afford to not keep pace with it. We have to keep up with what is happening internationally.

“The pink ball (idea) is something coming from the ICC,” said the Sri Lankan-born Fernando, while adding, “I don’t think the red (ball) blends so well with the (night) lights.”

For the first-round matches in Jamaica, which will be regular day games, the hosts begin their title defence against the Windward Islands, while Trinidad and Tobago play the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) and Barbados oppose the Leewards Islands.

The Sunday Observer has been reliably informed that Chedwin Park in St Catherine, Jarrett Park in St James and Kensington Park in East Kingston will host those matches.

All teams will play a day/night match once over the seven rounds, except for the CCC, who will play under artificial lights twice. Jamaica’s lone day/night encounter will be against the CCC in Guyana from February 12-15 in round five.

In the meantime, Adams noted that games under floodlights and the use of the pink ball are not new for four-day games in countries like Australia, though conditions there may differ from here in the Caribbean.

“They have had day/night games over four days in Australia in the past and it’s an ongoing situation,” he said, though adding, “We are concerned about the pink ball and the fact that some of these territories at night… the dew is very heavy, but you have to actually try it and then assess it or you will never know. (With) the possibilities that could come out of it (the day/night games) I don’t see it as a bad thing.”

Adams also related his own experience practising with the pink ball, albeit an experience which took place under natural light.

“I’ve only ever practised with a pink ball and it was during the day. What I will say is that I actually pick it up better than the white ball.

“In terms of what will happen in the evening, I’ve never had experience with it. What I do know is that the television camera prefers the pink ball to the white ball as well,” said the man who averaged 41.26 in Tests between 1992 and 2001.

Adams, while lamenting the fact that the Jamaica team has not been able to practice with the pink ball to date, said all teams would be faced with the same dilemma when the tournament starts.

“We’ve asked the WICB if they can send us some pink balls as soon as they get them so we can get accustomed to them. That for me is not one of the more ideal parts of this whole scenario. It would have been nice if we had the pink balls from now.

“When the pink balls come they will come at the same time for everybody. Whatever is affecting one is affecting all, and you just have to make the best of it,” Adams said.