Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland has said day-night Sheffield Shield matches could happen as early as next season if trials to develop a pink ball prove successful.
CA will trial the use of a pink ball during a day-night match in the Futures League, Australia's second XI tournament, at Adelaide Oval next week as part of a wider commitment to creating a ball suitable for day-night Test matches.
The trial, to be conducted during the match between South Australia and Western Australia from 2-4 February, will test the visibility of the coloured ball to players and spectators under both daylight and artificial light in match conditions.
Sutherland said CA is committed to finding a way to make day-night Test cricket a reality. "The results of the trial won't provide all the answers or a definitive outcome, but it will give us important information and feedback on the delivery of the project," he said, and added that it was possible a couple of rounds of Sheffield Shield cricket could be played at night as early as next season.
"I don't want to jump ahead too quickly there," he continued, "but I think that's something that we've certainly got in mind. And from there, who knows, it could be just a matter of a year or so [before day-night Test cricket is a reality]."
Play will start each day in Adelaide at 2.30pm and close at 9.30pm to ensure the final session will finish under lights. Other trials using a coloured ball will take place in Futures League matches at Allan Border Field in Brisbane (Queensland v New South Wales) and Junction Oval (Victoria v Tasmania) in Melbourne on the same dates. These matches will be played during daylight hours. The trial in Brisbane will also use a pink ball, while in Melbourne a white ball will be used.
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