Cricket Australia, "flushed with the success" of the
inaugural day-night test match, has scheduled another pink ball round of four-day
Sheffield Shield matches for mid-February, according to Nick Mulvenney of REUTERS. More than 123,000 fans
passed through the gates at Adelaide Oval over the three days of last
month's experimental test against New Zealand, a record for a non-Ashes
match. Round seven of the interstate Sheffield Shield championship will
now "take place under lights" with the Western Australian Cricket
Association in Perth, the Gabba in Brisbane and Adelaide all hosting
day-night matches starting on Feb. 14. CA Head of Cricket Operations
Sean Cary said, "The public's response to the first day-night test was
overwhelmingly positive and we've now had some time to evaluate feedback
from everyone involved in the match. ... These matches will be used as
part of our work to keep refining the ball in close consultation with
Kookaburra" (REUTERS, 12/15). In Sydney, Andrew Wu reported cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra has taken player feedback from the Adelaide Test "with a view to modifying the pink ball, which was widely regarded to have performed well although concerns remain over the visibility of the seam." The trial will also enable curators "to refine their pitch preparation so they can produce a surface with a more even contest between bat and ball." A grassier than usual pitch was used in Adelaide to preserve the pink ball, "which was a key factor in the Test finishing in three days." The Gabba, which upgraded its floodlights in September, is shaping as the favorite to host a day-night Test, "set to be against South Africa, should CA schedule two such fixtures next summer" (SMH, 12/15).
PLAYERS WANT CL REPLACEMENT: In Sydney, Chris Barrett reported Test retiree Brad Haddin said that players hope administrators "will establish a replacement vehicle for the defunct Twenty20 Champions League, admitting the scrapping of the lucrative tournament had taken away a carrot" for those in the Big Bash League who could "previously eye a place" on the int'l stage and share in a $2.5M winner's check. CA announced a A$600,000 ($431,600) lift in overall prizemoney for the BBL, but "that will go exclusively to the franchises." He said the canceling of this year's Champions League -- where overall prizemoney was $6M -- "was a blow for players" (SMH, 12/15).
