MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia says South Africa has agreed to play a day-night test match in Adelaide with a pink ball and under lights in November.
The South Africans are scheduled to arrive in Australia in mid-October and will play a two-day tour match in Adelaide under lights as part of their preparations for the test, CA said in a statement Wednesday. The Proteas will also play a second tour match under lights before the Adelaide test begins on Nov. 24.
South African players had been reluctant to play the Adelaide test after informal feedback from Australian players who had issues with the pink ball's visibility and durability in the first ever day-night test in Adelaide last year against New Zealand, a low-scoring contest which ended in three days.
Australia is also scheduled a day-night test match against Pakistan at the Gabba in Brisbane starting Dec. 15.
South Africa opens its three-test series against Australia on Nov. 3 in Perth, followed by a Hobart test from Nov.12.
"Nearly 124,000 people attended the inaugural day-night test match in Adelaide last year and there has been great anticipation about future day-night tests since," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said. "I would like to acknowledge the open manner in which Cricket South Africa and the South African Cricketers Association have worked through this matter with us."
Australia released the proposed itineraries in April for the South Africa and Pakistan tours but couldn't confirm the schedule without agreement from both visiting teams. Pakistan readily agreed to the day-nighter at the Gabba, but the South African players' union expressed reservations.
Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the Proteas were initially hesitant to play a key test match without previous experience and adequate preparation.
"But after working through all their concerns and possible options to prepare sufficiently, there is newfound excitement for this novel test match," Lorgat said. "Our players deserve credit for the way they have worked through the issues which were clearly not insignificant."