SYDNEY: Cricket Australia (CA) said on Monday it is pushing ahead with plans to stage an historic day-night Test match with New Zealand, possibly as early as the 2015-16 season.
CA chief executive James Sutherland and his New Zealand Cricket counterpart David White met in Melbourne last week during the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual conference to discuss the idea.
They are devising plans to stage the match when New Zealand tour Australia in November 2015, with the venue to be determined, said CA.
The ICC gave its approval in 2012 for member countries to work together on staging Test cricket under lights.
“We are serious about pushing ahead with the concept of day-night Test cricket,” said Sutherland in a statement.
“We feel it will only strengthen the position and possibilities for Test cricket in many parts of the world.
“There are many Test matches played during non-holiday periods when adults are at work and kids are at school and that’s not an ideal way to promote the highest form of the game.”
Meanwhile, White said his organisation was looking forward to contributing to the day-night Test concept, especially in terms of helping develop a new pink ball suitable for Test conditions.
“Australia continue to assess conditions to ensure they are appropriate to stage Test cricket at night, and we fully support that duty of care,” said White in the CA statement.
Both governing bodies said they would continue to seek the opinion of players, spectators and broadcasters.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2014.
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