South Africa to host first ever 4-day day-night Test match

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced it will play the first ever 4-day Test match under lights in Port Elizabeth against Zimbabwe. The Test will start on the Boxing Day, the traditional match in the country and end on December 29. However, the fixture will need to be ratified by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to be given Test status. Also, the New Year Test which takes place on January 2 every year, will be played on 5th of the month which will embark India’s tour of South Africa.

The Proteas will have a busy summer as they are set to host Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, India and Australia in the 2017-18 season. They will play as many as 10 Test matches in the period in order to regain their numero uno status in the format. Bangladesh players are already in the country and will commence the series with the 1st Test on September 28 in Potchefstroom. Team India will land in the country after Christmas and will play 3 Tests, 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is on the tour which will be followed by a 4-Test series against Australia in March.

Zimbabwe to play their first Test in South Africa since 2004/05

The compromise over the itinerary of the Indian team due to their hectic home season left a gap for the traditional Boxing Day Test in South Africa. That gap will be filled by Zimbabwe who have not played a Test in South Africa since 2004/05. The chief executive of CSA, Haroon Lorgat was delighted to announce the first ever 4-day Test match under lights and hoped that ICC approves the idea to give it international status.

“To ensure we do not disappoint our loyal fans over the traditional Boxing Day period and to take advantage of our brand-new lights at St George’s Park, we will host Zimbabwe in the first ever 4-day D/N Test match to be played. The Test status of the match is subject to ICC approval. We have now finalised the fixtures for a very busy home summer of international cricket,” Lorgat said.