Australia players want just one Day-Night Test a year

Australia has become the face of Day-Night cricket. Having become the first team to play it, the Aussies have taken the sport to a whole new level. However, as things stand, the Aussies do not want to play more than one Day-Night Test per year. The schedule had read that the Aussies would play two Day-Night matches, one against the South Africans at the Adelaide Oval and the other at the Gabba in Brisbane.

“The recent media regarding whether South Africa will or won’t play a day-night Test is only one part of the equation,” Nicholson said. “There are many other factors to be considered. The feedback we are receiving from our playing group is that there still remain concerns over day-night Tests and whilst there is an acknowledgement that this format may grow the game, at this stage the players would prefer to only play one day-night Test in 2016-17.

“Pink-ball Tests are a fundamentally different game to traditional red-ball Test matches. We continue to be concerned about the durability and visibility of the pink ball, both the changing light conditions and the specifically prepared pitches are altering the conditions that the players are used to at each venue.

Last year’s inaugural day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval was over within three days, as the extra grass was left on the pitch in an effort to protect the ball from too much wear and tear. Australia’s captain Steven Smith said on Cricket Australia’s website recently that last year’s Test was “probably two millimetres of grass away from a four-day game”.

“The players are supportive of innovation and certainly see the bigger picture,” Nicholson said. “It’s about growing the game through high-quality cricket, accessible to as many people as possible. That’s why we urge more formal discussions with the players having a seat at the table. On behalf of the players the ACA would welcome that.”