Cape Town - The Proteas could play their maiden day-night Test when they visit Australia for a three-match series later this year.
The Aussies beat New Zealand by three wickets in the inaugural day-night Test last year at the Adelaide Oval. The match was a resounding success with spectators streaming through the gates to see the first Test played with a pink ball.
The total match attendance of 123 736 people over the course of the three days made it the highest non-Ashes attendance in the Adelaide Oval’s history. The pink ball also received good reviews despite some concerns leading into the match that it could be difficult to see.
According to media reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, Cricket Australia are currently exploring the idea of the Proteas and the World No 1 Aussies going head-to-head under lights at the Adelaide Oval again.
Cricket South Africa spokesperson Altaaf Khazi, though, denied that the historic fixture has been confirmed at this stage. “We are still in discussion and finalising the fixtures with Cricket Australia,” Khazi told Independent Media on Wednesday.
There is some consternation on how many Tests the Proteas will actually play Down Under. The initial understanding was that South Africa would play a four-match series in Australia for the first time since returning from isolation in 1991 – the Proteas have traditionally only played three Tests – but it seems that the status quo will now remain.
Instead of Brisbane’s Gabba playing host to the customary first Test of the Australian summer, South Africa are being penciled in at this stage to play at the Waca in Perth before moving to Hobart. The Proteas are likely to close off the tour with the floodlit Test in Adelaide.
South Africa have not lost a Test series for a decade in Australia with the last defeat being on the 2005-06 tour. Since then the Proteas have emerged victorious 2-1 in 2008/09 and again 1-0 in 2012-13.
Indepedent Media