Australia to host first day-night test match against New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand will play cricket’s first day-night Test match under lights in Adelaide this November using a pink ball, cricket chiefs announced Tuesday. Despite the misgivings of players, officials in Australia and New Zealand said the innovation would help drive up television audiences and spectator numbers for the five-day game. The historic international will be played in Adelaide from November 27-December 1 and will be the third and final Test in a series between the trans-Tasman rivals.

By shifting the playing times each day’s play can go into the evening and allow people to come in after work or after school to attend the last few hours of play.

Cricket Australia (CA) chief James Sutherland

Despite administrators’ enthusiasm, many players are concerned day-night Tests undermine the game’s traditions and could increase the danger for batsmen if they cannot pick-up the ball properly under lights. A survey of New Zealand’s top players last month found most senior Black Caps were sceptical about taking part in an experiment they feared could “devalue” the Test. But the pay-off for the Black Caps’ involvement is guaranteed matches against Australia for the next seven years.

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