English cricket took a plunge into the future as it launched into its first day-night test match against the West Indies at Edgbaston.
The hosts won the afternoon toss and decided to bat in the landmark match on Thursday, the first day-nighter with the pink ball to be staged in the country and only the fifth in all since Australia and New Zealand played the inaugural one in Adelaide in 2015.
After winning the inaugural toss in the three-match series, home captain Joe Root said: "It looks a good wicket, we'll have to see how the pink ball performs. It's a very exciting time, very new for everyone here."
With play starting three hours later than usual and with the potential to play until 9.30pm under the floodlights, even experienced English players were left acknowledging a step into the dark.
"I just don't know what to expect," paceman Stuart Broad said earlier in the week. "We are just going to have to be so adaptable on the day and figure out what's going on."
England's decision to bat meant an immediate chance to impress for debutant Mark Stoneman, the 15th different opening partner for Alastair Cook.
"He's a fine player and it's a good opportunity for him," Root said of the Surrey batsman.
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