Cricket Australia has been seeking to make the third Test of the Proteas’ tour of Australia a day-night match in Adelaide, but while that remains unconfirmed, plans announced on Wednesday include a day-nighter against Pakistan starting on December 15 in Brisbane.
Australia will play three Tests against South Africa in November, and three against Pakistan in December and January.
They will also play three one-day internationals against New Zealand in December, five against Pakistan in January, and three Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka in February.
However, the outstanding question remains the nature of the third Test against South Africa, which Cricket Australia is keen to play with a pink ball.
Australia played New Zealand in the first-ever day-night Test in November, attracting huge crowds in Adelaide and on television, and that is something Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland hopes to repeat.
“There is enormous expectation that we deliver another pink-ball Test match this summer in Adelaide,” he said.
#AUSvPAK
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) April 19, 2016
Test series schedule:
15-19 December - Brisbane (day/night)
26-30 December - Melbourne
3-7 January - Sydney#Cricket #Pakistan
“Understandably, there is some concern from the South African players, but day-night Test cricket is all about the fans and a day-night match in Adelaide will be a bigger Test match crowd than the South African players will have ever experienced.
“The success of Adelaide last year demonstrates the huge potential the day-night format has in revitalising Test cricket all over the world, and it’s for that reason that it is our desire to stage another Test under lights at that venue.”
Persuading Pakistan to bring day-night cricket to the Gabba was a more straightforward process.
“Pakistan should be applauded for committing to and supporting the Day-Night Test initiative,” Sutherland said.
Pakistan will be playing their first Tests in Australia since 2010.
