Australia is one step closer to hosting day-night Test matches with Cricket Australia (CA) announcing twilight first-class games will be played this summer.
In round nine of the Sheffield Shield season in February, day-night games will be trialled in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne using pink balls.
If these trials are successful, Australia could be in line to host New Zealand in a historic day-night Test in late 2015.
Before that however, CA will look to schedule more twilight first-class matches in the 2014-15 season to further trial playing conditions and equipment with the view of a potential day-night Test being played in Australia in 2015-16.
"There is a lot of work to be done and nothing is guaranteed but this summer's trials are our first serious effort to make day-night Test cricket a reality," CA chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement on Friday.
"We've also had some discussions with New Zealand Cricket to gauge their interest in the concept over the past few weeks given they are due to tour Australia in late 2015.
"This is all about the fans. Cricket can't afford to sit on its hands and must keep working hard to ensure Tests remain the most popular form of the game."
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said it will be flexible on any proposed amendments to playing conditions that will allow such trials to proceed.
