Adelaide is likely to host the maiden day-night Ashes Test during the 2017-’18 edition of the traditional five-match, according to a report on Thursday from cricket.com.au.
The report suggested that Cricket Australia are contemplating the move considering the popularity of the format. An official announcement in expected soon from the cricket body.
Speaking about the possibility of having a day-night Test in the Ashes, a Cricket Australia representative told cricket.com.au, “More than 125,000 people attended the third Commonwealth Bank day-night Test match in Adelaide this year and there has been great anticipation about future day-night Tests. The Ashes is a great contest and attracts huge audiences both at the ground and on television, but nothing has yet been confirmed for next summer.”
England captain Alastair Cook and his Australian counterpart Steve Smith have so far maintained a reluctance about day-night Test matches being played in the Ashes. However, despite the this fact, a day-night Test looks certain to be included in the highly-anticipated series.
If the Test does go through, it would be the third Test to be played under lights at the Adelaide Oval, after the inaugural day-night Test match between Australia and New Zealand that was played in November 2015. The second, and last, day-night Test match to be played at the Adelaide Oval was the final Test between Australia and South Africa. On both occasions, Australia emerged as the winner.
Aside from Australia’s win over South Africa in Adelaide, Pakistan played their first day-night Test match against West Indies in Dubai last month.
Later in December this year, the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan to be held at the Gabba, is to be a day-night Test match. Likewise, Edgbaston will be the venue for England’s first day-night Test match, in their series against West Indies, in August 2017.
