Thaindian News

Sydney, Jan 25(ANI): Cricket Australia (CA) has intensified their campaign to play day-night Test cricket, and has confirmed that they will trial the use of a pink ball during a three-day match at Adelaide Oval next week to be played as a day-night fixture.

The experiment at the second-tier Futures League match between South Australia and Western Australia starting on Tuesday will be used to assess the feasibility of fundamentally changing the conditions for Test cricket.

The trial will also be used to test the visibility of the ball for both players and spectators under both daylight and the Adelaide Oval’s floodlights at night, and to monitor the ball’s discolouration.

“Cricket Australia is committed to finding a way to make day-night Test cricket a reality and the Adelaide Oval trial is one of many steps that need to be taken before this vision is realised,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted James Sutherland, CA chief executive, as saying.

Earlier, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had said that they will trial the pink ball in its traditional season-opening match between the Marylebone Cricket Club, which has been a driving force behind the concept, and the county champions, Durham.

The four-day match has always been held at the home of the MCC, Lord’s, but this year the four-day game will take place in Abu Dhabi under floodlights.

MCC head of cricket John Stephenson said that the match will be another step towards floodlit Test cricket.

“We’ve been asking cricket authorities around the world to help us trial the pink ball under floodlights,” Stephenson said.

“If this match is a success, it could help to re-invigorate Test cricket. We have an opportunity to play our part for the good of the game and we’re determined to grasp it,” he added. (ANI)