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Queensland Cricket has been given an ideal platform to bolster its bid for a day-night Test.
With one eye on a pink ball that still needs tweaking and another on next summer’s schedule, Cricket Australia (CA) has opted for a day-night Sheffield Shield round in February.
Shield games starting on February 14 at the Gabba, Adelaide Oval and WACA were originally listed as red-ball matches, but on Tuesday CA confirmed the round will be played under lights.
CA boss James Sutherland has already floated the prospect of scheduling two pink-ball Tests next summer, having declared the concept a resounding success after it was launched last month in Adelaide.
Adelaide will almost certainly host a day-night Test in 2016/17, while Brisbane is the frontrunner if there is a second fixture.
New lights were installed at the Gabba in September, while its typically well-grassed centre wicket will help the pink ball stay in shape longer.
The prospect of launching the home summer with a bang – as opposed to this year’s whimper that followed the Melbourne Cup – is also attractive for CA.
CA is unlikely to tinker with the MCG and SCG Tests, as both are held in school holidays and already attract reasonable crowds.
The Nine Network is expected to object to a day-night Test in Perth due to the time zone, leaving Brisbane and Hobart as the leading contenders.
Tellingly, Bellerive could have hosted a day-night Shield match if CA changed the colour of the ball in rounds eight or nine instead of seven.
CA’s head of cricket operations Sean Cary suggested the round would benefit players and help assess the pink ball.
“These matches will be used as part of our work to keep refining the ball in close consultation with Kookaburra,” Cary said.
“As we look ahead to future international seasons and the prospect of playing more Test cricket under lights, we want to give our players more opportunities to play with the pink ball.”
However, Australia’s Test stars will be touring New Zealand in February.
The inaugural day-night Test lasted three days but attracted a total attendance of 123,736.
Nine was delighted with prime-time TV ratings that peaked at 3.19 million during a thrilling finish, in which Australia beat NZ by three wickets under lights.
Players still harbour concerns about the pink ball, especially how hard it is to pick up the seam.
Kookaburra is investigating whether a black seam would be viable.
Queensland and Tasmania players won’t be able to blame the lights if they struggle on February 14.
“The Gabba lighting is better for the players, broadcasters, fans at the ground and TV viewers,” a Gabba spokesman said of the recent upgrade.
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