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David Warner and a pink cricket ball
Australia’s David Warner kisses a pink ball during a net session at the Adelaide Oval. Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images
Australia’s David Warner kisses a pink ball during a net session at the Adelaide Oval. Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Cricket in the pink with all eyes on Australia v New Zealand

This article is more than 8 years old
Adelaide will make history on Friday with the first day-night Test. We look at how the match will work and why it has come about.

The third and final Test between Australia and New Zealand will be the first to be played under floodlights using a pink ball. Australia lead the series 1-0.

How it will work?

Play on each of the five days will start at 2pm local time, with the scheduled close at 9pm. Sunset in Adelaide at present is at 8.10pm, with the floodlights taking over from the natural light in the final session.

Why are they doing it?

The driving force behind the concept is to address a decline in audiences for Test cricket by playing the sport at times more convenient to the attending supporters and television viewers, with more of the play after work and school hours.

Why use a pink ball?

With players wearing their traditional whites, unlike the coloured clothing in one-day cricket, the pink ball is considered the best colour for visibility in daylight, dusk and under floodlights against different backdrops. Yellow and orange balls have been trialled in the past but have not been considered effective.

How much testing has been done?

The opening day-night first-class match took place between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago in Antigua in January 2010, with MCC’s champion county fixture, which heralds the start of the English summer, having been played under similar conditions in Abu Dhabi for the past six years. The Australian domestic first-class game has featured a number of day-night fixtures over the past three seasons. To date, there have been 33 day-night first-class matches played around the world.

What are the issues to overcome?

The durability of the ball represents the biggest hurdle for day-night Test cricket, with the pink Kookaburra struggling to keep its colour and shape for 80 overs. To aid its condition, the drop-in pitch at the Adelaide Oval is being kept greener and the square made smaller to reduce its abrasiveness. Fielders in previous day-night first-class matches have reported problems picking up the ball square of the wicket, while batsmen have spoken of the twilight period being the hardest time in which to bat, as well as problems spotting the seam of the ball when the spinners are bowling. Seam bowlers, including Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who has taken 15 wickets in his two pink-ball games, have bemoaned the lack of movement after the early overs.

How has the concept been received?

South Australia have reported an Ashes-like interest in tickets and are expecting a record crowd in excess of 40,000 for the opening day. Cheaper “twilight tickets” that allow entry to the ground from 4pm for the final two sessions are also on sale.

A poll by Cricket Australia in July showed 68% of supporters were in favour of day-night Tests, with 21% against and 11% undecided. Television companies are, understandably, in favour due to prime-time advertising revenue and higher audiences. Opinions among current and former cricketers are divided, however, with traditionalists and those critical of the pink ball’s ability to last 80 overs against the idea. Spin bowlers, such as Australia’s Nathan Lyon, have spoken in favour of day-night cricket while the India captain, Virat Kohli, and the former Australia captains Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh have recognised the importance of embracing anything that could increase Test cricket’s popularity in the future.

Is this shape of things to come?

Floodlit Test cricket looks unlikely to become universal, with conditions making it unsuitable in certain grounds around the world, where low evening temperatures reduce the appeal to spectators or make dew a factor for the fielding side. There will, however, be countries where it works better and where we could see the day-night format used more readily: the southern hemisphere and the United Arab Emirates look best suited. Tony Irish, head of the players’ union Fica, has stressed the need to consider this initial day-night Test as an experiment and not to commit to the format too quickly. Australia and Pakistan are already in talks to have at least one day‑night Test in their series next year.

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