Cricket Australia flirts with day-night Test idea for Ashes series

In Australia, the concept of the day-night Test match has become a hit. Such is the impact it has had on the game that Cricket Australia’s CEO James Sutherland is toying with the idea of hosting an Ashes Test match under lights. He added that it was a distinct possibility that the board was toying with when the Poms come visiting in 2017-18 to hold onto the Ashes.

Speaking to cricket.com.au, Sutherland said it might happen in 2017-18. “I think that’s a distinct possibility,” he said. “In the next 12 months, we are going to see Test cricket being played in other countries other than Australia. I’m very confident that other member boards will be keen to do that and it’ll become part of regular series. It might well be possible to have a day-night Test in the Ashes series in 2017-18.

“We are hopeful that the big picture will prevail and hopeful of making Test cricket more accessible to the fans and for those who will be sitting in at home and watching it after office or school. We know the success of the Adelaide Test last year and that’s one of the reasons why we are so enthusiastic about going down this path.”

At the moment, however, South Africa seem to be the only side that is resisting playing with the pink ball. Sutherland acknowledged that discussion is going on with South African players’ association to ensure that the players have enough opportunity to get accustomed to it and the various challenges associated with day-night Tests.

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“I maintain my position that I continue to be optimistic about the Adelaide Test match being played as a day-night Test match,” he said on Monday (April 25). “In a timing sense we probably won’t have any firm decisions on that until after the IPL’s over, when their [South Africa’s] players get back home, but certainly constructive discussions and I think things are heading in the right direction.

“As we know from last year we’ll see an enormous attendance at a day-night match in Adelaide. It’ll be a bigger crowd than the South African players have ever seen before. To some extent that can add a little bit of extra trepidation when they haven’t played under lights before; hopefully as part of the plan here we’ll provide as much opportunity for them to prepare with pink balls and under lights both back at home and leading into the Test match. It’s a lot about making sure they have a comfortable preparation to get themselves ready for that game.”

Sutherland also added that it would help to keep Test cricketers within the country by paying them better so that they wouldn’t have to seek different countries to ply their trade.

“I’m genuinely excited about the progress that’s been made and the collective will that appears to be in the room among Full Members to improve the context around international cricket and the quality of international cricket,” he said. “Some of the key things there are about trying to make way to ensure the best players play international cricket, that they’re available and they don’t feel under pressure to go and chase money in T20 leagues.

“Part of that is elevating the primacy of all forms of international cricket but particularly Test cricket, and looking to build context. Whether that’s through leagues or championships or whatever it might be, it’s too early to say, but I can honestly say that in terms of ICC meetings I’ve attended and we’ve discussed these sort of matters, these were as a good a meetings as I’ve ever been to.”

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