Chronicle EditorSYDNEY. — Cricket Australia has unveiled plans for day-night Tests against South Africa and Pakistan but admitted player concerns about the experimental format meant the Proteas’ fixture was not locked in.
The day-night Tests using a pink ball are a central part of Australia’s home international schedule for 2016-17, which also features limited over matches against three nations. Administrators regard the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last season as an outstanding success, attracting 123 000 spectators and an average television audience of two million.
However, players from both sides complained about the pink ball’s movement and durability, as well as the difficulty batsmen faced seeing it under lights.
CA chief executive James Sutherland said Pakistan had agreed to play a day-night Test in Brisbane but South Africa’s players had refused to commit to a similar fixture in Adelaide.
“Understandably, there is some concern from the South African players,” Sutherland said, underlining CA’s argument that innovation was needed to reinvigorate Test cricket.
“Day-night Test cricket is all about the fans and a day-night match in Adelaide will be a bigger Test match crowd than the South African players will have ever experienced.” — AFP.
Online Reporter