Cricket: Australia, New Zealand set for day-night test match

Australia and New Zealand have decided to play a first Test match under lights in November, 2015, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Monday. Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland and his New Zealand counterpart David White met in Melbourne last week during the International Cricket Council conference, where they discuss this matter.

CA, who have been discussing playing Tests under lights for at least five years, testing a number of first-class matches in the domestic Sheffield Shield at night using pink balls and black sightscreens earlier this year and hopes to have the concept perfected in time for New Zealand’s tour next year. The venue is yet to be fixed for the day-night Test. The ICC gave its approval in 2012 for member countries to work together and co-operate to promote Test cricket under lights. . “We’re not talking about playing the Boxing Day or New Year’s Test at night. The summer holiday period in Australia really lends itself to test cricket, but at other times of the year it can be difficult for fans to attend or watch test matches, be it here or in other parts of the world,” Sutherland said in a statement.

White said his organisation was looking forward to contributing to the day-night Test concept, especially in terms of helping develop a new pink ball suitable for Test conditions.

“Australia continues to assess conditions to ensure they are appropriate to stage Test cricket at night, and we fully support that duty of care,” White said in the CA statement.” There are many Test matches played during non-holiday periods when adults are at work and kids are at school and that’s not an ideal way to promote the highest form of the game. ICC chief executive David Richardson said he supported the idea. “I’m pleased that after the ICC board gave its thumbs-up during the 2012 annual conference and following extensive trials and debates, we are now at a stage when two of our members are contemplating playing the first-ever day-night Test.”