JOHANNESBURG: Assurances over proper preparation and that the rest of the cricketing world is keen on playing day-night Tests led to a change of heart among Proteas players, and as a result they will play a Test under lights in Australia later this year.
SA Cricketers Association chief executive Tony Irish said the Proteas still have some concerns, but the bigger picture - of growing the popularity of Test cricket - took precedence, and the players were happy to be part of an historic event.
“There are still legitimate concerns, especially over the ball, and the fact that conditions have to be tailor-made for the ball to work, but the players will deal with those,” Irish said yesterday.
“We won’t, for instance, know if guys will have problems seeing a pink ball, that can only by assessed later.
“But the players all felt that those concerns could be managed, and the better thing to do was to go ahead (and play the match).”
South Africa will play three Tests in Australia in November, with the final match a “day-nighter” in Adelaide. That it could potentially be a series decider added to the Proteas' initial fears.
In confirming the match, Cricket Australia also announced additions to the schedule that will see the South Africans play two matches under lights at the Adelaide Oval - one at the start of the tour and a second just before the final Test.
CA also announced that the first of the four-day matches between SA A and Australia A - starting on July 30 - will be played with a pink ball.
So Test incumbents Stephen Cook and Temba Bavuma, who are both in the A squad, have an opportunity chance to adapt to the ball. - Cape Times