Adelaide Oval appears well placed to host the world’s first day-night Test match in November next year.
Cricket Australia confirmed today it has progressed plans for the match – using a pink ball – to be a feature of the New Zealand 2015-16 tour of Australia.
“While further trials on the development of the ball to more closely mirror the characteristics and behaviour of the red ball currently used for Test matches will continue, both parties are supportive of the innovation and its clear benefits,” CA announced today.
Adelaide Oval is the one of two venues under consideration. Melbourne and Sydney’s boxing day and new year Test matches won’t be considered for the day-night concept, leaving Adelaide and Hobart as the contenders.
CA said data that shows the Australian summer’s regular Perth Test, which screens until around 9pm in the eastern states, rates around 40 per cent higher on television than other matches played at a similar time of year.
This demonstrates the potential for a day-night Test match.
“We believe that’s evidence in itself that we’ll get greater viewership and more opportunities for people to attend,” CA’s chief executive James Sutherland told the Cricket Australia website.
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“I don’t think we’re ever going to get to a stage where everyone is completely satisfied or comfortable with it.
“But I think if we go back 30-odd years in time when the first every day-night one-day internationals were played I’m sure there was that same level of trepidation among some stakeholders including players about things like day-night cricket and white balls.
“What we are conscious of is that we are operating a business in the entertainment sector and we are looking to create as many opportunities as possible for our fans to engage with our sport.”
