Are Day-night Tests The Future Of Cricket?

Cricket Australia senior news editor at Dave Middleton discusses plans to host the first ever day-night Test match.

The Adelaide Oval will host the first ever day-night Test match when Australia host New Zealand from 27th November.

The match, the third of a three-Test series between Australia and the Black Caps this summer, will be the Test to be held under lights and played with a pink ball, provided by Kookaburra.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the day-night Test puts fans first, with more spectators able to attend or watch on television, as he commented: “One of the global challenges with Test cricket is that most of the matches outside holiday periods are played on week days, in the middle of the day, when people are at work and kids are at school.

“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, but also when they get home in other parts of the world or other parts of the country, they can watch the game on TV.”

The start time for the day-night Test is still under consideration and not yet confirmed, but one possible scenario would see play start at 2.30pm and run until 9.30pm Adelaide time.

In another break from Test cricket tradition, the longer 40-minute interval, known as lunch in day Tests, could now be held between the second and third sessions, and would be known as ‘dinner’. The 20-minute break for tea would retain the same name, but it would be held between the first and second sessions of the Test.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said: “This initiative is another step forward in the evolution of the game. Since the first Test in 1877 there have been numerous changes to the laws and rules in an effort to ensure the game remains relevant – and this is another.

“As administrators we owe it to the game to keep exploring ways of moving forward.”

Players from both sides have expressed concerns over the pink ball, as they fear it will behave differently to the traditional red ball, although organisers hope to alleviate such anxiety by holding a series of fixtures held ahead of the Test match.

Sutherland commented: “We’ve worked very closely with the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Kookaburra in the development of the ball and its continued upgrade to make it ready.

“We’ll make sure that the players from both teams are well prepared. We’re working really closely with New Zealand Cricket in giving them the right tour matches and preparation before the day-night Test, which is the last of the series.

“And similarly with our players. A number of our players have already had experience of day-night games through Sheffield Shield cricket [the Australian domestic first-class competition]. But for those that haven’t, we’ll be finding opportunities for them to play with the pink balls and also to play under lights as well.”

Those opportunities are expected to include another round of day-night Shield cricket before the Test series.

Australian Cricket’s Association chief executive Alistair Nicholson said: “The feedback from players in the Sheffield Shield trials to date have yielded a range of opinions but we’ve been pleased that their input has helped drive development in the quality of the pink balls and the match conditions generally.

“Our focus has been on player safety and ensuring an even contest between bat and ball as well as organising upcoming matches for those in the Australian squad who are yet to play under these conditions.

“There is an appetite for the concept and it’s crucial that those playing in this format have a strong voice in how it develops.”

New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills added: “It’s fair to say our players are nervous about the day-night Test. It’s uncharted territory and because of that there will be uncertainty and apprehension.

“However, whilst the players have reservations about the concept, they can see the bigger picture in the new agreement, and the greater good it brings to all levels of the game.”

Nine Entertainment Company chief executive David Gyngell also welcomed the concept, commenting: “Bring it on. Evolution is everything in elite sport and its coverage, and it’s up to us all to think outside the square and meet these challenges.

“Let’s give it a red-hot go and see what develops.”