Day-night Test cricket moves a step closer with Warwickshire pink ball trial
Friday 29 July 2016 15:58, UK
The possibility of day-night Test cricket in England moved a step closer on Friday, with Warwickshire agreeing to host a pink ball trial under lights at second team level next month.
Warwickshire's Second XI will take on Worcestershire Second XI at Edgbaston on August 22-24, a match moved from Barnt Green to accommodate a day-night fixture.
The decision has been made in concert with the England and Wales Cricket Board, which is eager to explore the viability of floodlit first-class and Test cricket, as well as ball manufacturers Kookaburra and Dukes.
Both will provide a pink ball for use in the match, with each used for two innings of the match, which will be free to the public.
ECB's head of cricket operations, Alan Fordham, said: "Staging first-class matches under lights with a pink ball is a format which has worked well elsewhere in the cricketing world and it's important we consider ways in which we can attract more people to first class-cricket in the long term.
"We'll be monitoring this trial match closely and we would like to thank Warwickshire for their support in hosting the fixture."
Neil Snowball, Warwickshire chief executive, said: "The concept of day-night cricket has attracted a large amount of interest around the world and we are keen to support the ECB by exploring the potential for these fixtures in England and Wales.
"We have a long tradition of staging day-night cricket on this ground and this trial game will provide valuable insights for everyone interested in broadening the audience for our first class game."
Edgbaston hosted the first day-night limited-overs match in the UK in 1997, under temporary lights, but now has a state-of-the-art permanent lighting set-up and is seen as the likeliest venue should the ECB commit to hosting a day-night Test.
