Players only want one day-night Test: ACA

The Australian Cricketers' Association is calling for only one pink-ball Test to be held this summer.

The day-night Test at Adelaide Oval between Australia and NZ

The Australian Cricketers' Association is calling for only one pink-ball Test this summer. (AAP)

The body representing Australia's cricketers is lobbying for only one pink-ball Test to be played during the 2016-17 international summer.

At this stage, two are slated in for this summer with one against Pakistan at the Gabba and another with South Africa at Adelaide Oval.

However, Cricket Australia (CA) is meeting stern resistance from its South African counterparts, who fear a lack of preparation with the pink ball could hurt their chances going into the potential series decider.

And while negotiations are in progress with the visitors, Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) chief executive Alistair Nicholson says CA should first consult its own players.

"The feedback we are receiving from our playing group is that there still remains concerns over day-night Tests," Nicholson said.

"Whilst there is acknowledgment that this format may grow the game, at this stage, the players would prefer to only play one day-night Test in 2016/17."

Last year's fixture in South Australia was the most popular of the summer with sellout crowds and huge TV audiences watching the inaugural match.

And while fan surveys delivered overwhelming praise, the reviews were not so positive from the players involved.

Seventy per cent of Australian and New Zealand players said the pink ball was hard to see at dusk, while 80 per cent complained it didn't show similar signs of wear and tear to the red ball.

"Pink-ball Tests are a fundamentally different game to traditional red-ball Test matches," Nicholson said.

"We continue to be concerned about the durability and visibility of the pink ball, both the changing light conditions and the specifically prepared pitches are altering the conditions that the players are used to at each venue."

The ACA also hit back at calls from CA chief executive James Sutherland for players to see the bigger picture, saying the players just wanted more of a voice in how the game was grown.


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Source: AAP



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