What is the future of day-night Tests?

The cricket world will be watching Adelaide Oval this weekend, with the future of day-night Tests likely to be determined based on the experiment.

An Australian coaching staff member holds a pink ball

India is edging closer to hosting day-night Tests, with the pink ball to be trialled domestically. (AAP)

Cricket Australia (CA) has vowed not to put the cart before the horse as players, pundits and officials around the world wait for the results of its experiment.

The pink-ball clash is due to finish on Tuesday night, when CA's thoughts will turn to the future of day-night Tests.

The Pakistan Cricket Board claims it has already been approached by CA about a Test under lights next summer.

CA team performance boss Pat Howard is adamant his organisation won't push on with further day-night Tests until players provide feedback.

"Absolutely - we're going to have to see if this works," Howard told AAP.

"The fan side of things - there's no debate.

"The cricket side of things - we've got to get that right. Winning Test matches is paramount.

"It's whether we get the tools of the trade right."

MCC World Cricket Committee chairman Mike Brearley thought it would be foolish to judge the viability of day-night Tests after one match.

"It's not going to be perfect straight off. They're going to have to try this and that," former England captain Brearley told ABC radio.

"If the pink ball for some reason isn't the right ball, well you can play with the white ball in coloured clothing. Why not?"

Steve Smith's men will provide private feedback to CA and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA).

The players' union has also encouraged Test players to speak their mind publicly - many have already shown a willingness to do so.

"It's important players have the confidence to speak their mind. They've got our full support to do that," ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson told AAP.

"I'm not sure what Cricket Australia's longer-term plan is but our focus is on making sure we get the feedback from the players.

"Then we can sit down and work through it.

"If there are plans for it in the future - what does that look like and what do the players want it to look like?"

There will also be global implications of the match.

New Zealand are already in talks to host Bangladesh in a pink-ball match, NZ coach Mike Hesson opining earlier this week that pink-ball Tests could become the norm.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has praised the "exciting" development intended to boost dwindling Test crowds.

International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson is also a fan.

"Either we do nothing, and let the appetite for Test cricket die, or deal with the problem head-on," Richardson said.

Ian Chappell, a driving force in Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket, felt the innovation was overdue.

Chappell believed day-night Tests would become part of the program in most parts of the world - provided the ball stood up.

"I'm not sure it can happen everywhere," the former Australian skipper said.

"At some of the places with heavy dew, it's probably not going to be feasible.

"For the good of the game, it's got to happen ... but they have to get the ball right."


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Source: AAP



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