The guarantee of more trans-Tasman matches has persuaded "nervous" New Zealand players to "reluctantly endorse" the world's first day-night Test, in Adelaide in November, according to Andrew Faulkner of THE AUSTRALIAN. An extra 18 one-day internationals -- on top of series already scheduled -- between the World Cup finalists over the next four years "was the carrot that led the Black Caps to set aside their misgivings about night Test cricket." Cricket Australia "announced the first day-night Test would be played with a pink ball" in Adelaide from Nov. 27-Dec. 1. The venue "came down to a race in three -- Adelaide, Brisbane and Hobart -- because Perth's Test is played in the eastern seaboard's prime time and Melbourne and Sydney are locked in to their Boxing Day and New Year slots." The night Test "was supposed to be announced early this month but more time was needed to talk the New Zealand players into accepting the change." The Kiwi players might have felt the match was all about the money generated by higher TV ratings, but CA CEO James Sutherland said that "it was all about the fans" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/30). The AFP reported Australia coach Darren Lehmann said that "it was a way to boost the popularity of Test cricket, which is seen by purists as the pinnacle of the game but has been overshadowed by limited-overs formats in recent years." He said, "Only time will tell if it's right or wrong. At the end of the day we've got to give it a crack and I think it's important for the game." New Zealand Cricket CEO David White said that "the day-night format would not take over from regular Test cricket, describing it as part of the game's evolution." The pink match ball "has been developed by manufacturer Kookaburra to be more visible to players under lights than the traditional red one" (AFP, 6/30).
