Playing under lights will be a mental challenge: Vettori

Before a red-ball Test match, a Bangladesh cricketer would ideally go to bed latest by 10 o'clock at night and wake up the next day around 6:30 in the morning. For this to happen some would even have dinner by 6 pm in the evening. But this may all change for the Day/Night Test against India starting tomorrow at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The pink ball, twilight, dew, batting under lights are not the only things the India and Bangladesh cricketers will have to adjust. The cricketers' body clock and daily routine before and during a Test match is also set to go through a series of changes for the Day/Night Test. And they have no choice but to adjust.

Bangladesh spin-bowling consultant Daniel Vettori highlighted the importance of getting used to playing under lights both mentally and physically. "I think it'll be a challenge for all of us... Maybe not so much physically but mentally definitely," said Vettori.

A 1 pm start – earlier than a usual Day/Night Test – will work in the players' favour. Stumps is called in a red ball Test in India latest by 5 pm. But in the coming Day/Night Test match, it will only be halfway through the second session. The scheduled close of play is 8 pm and with half an hour extension play could go on till 8:30.

However, Indian wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhman Saha sounded confident that different timing will not have any bearings on the cricketers. "We all have to make minor changes in our routine but I'm sure that won't make a big difference or affect preparation," said Saha.