South Africa agrees to day-night Australia Test

South Africa has overcome its reservations and has agreed to play a day-night pink ball Test against Australia in Adelaide this year, cricket chiefs from the boards of both countries announced on Wednesday.

The Proteas initially feared they would be disadvantaged by having no experience under pink ball conditions.

South Africa has overcome its reservations and agreed to play a day-night pink ball Test against Australia in Adelaide this year, cricket chiefs announced on Wednesday. Australia unveiled plans for day-night Tests against South Africa and Pakistan in April, but admitted player concerns about the experimental format meant the Proteas' fixture was not locked in.

It is now confirmed for November 24-28. "This announcement will further fuel the excitement about what promises to be a fascinating series between formidable rivals," said Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.

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Cricket South Africa chief Haroon Lorgat said the decision was made after talks with players, who initially feared they would be disadvantaged by having no experience under pink ball conditions. "Following careful consideration and engagement with all our Test players, and recognising the need to exploit the potential of playing day-night Test cricket, I am pleased to announce that we have agreed with Cricket Australia to proceed with this fixture," he said in the same statement.

'Newfound excitement'

"Our Proteas were initially hesitant to play such 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. Our players deserve credit for the way they have worked through the issues which were clearly not insignificant," he added.

The day-night Tests using a pink ball, designed to be more visible under floodlights, are a central part of Australia's home international schedule for 2016-17, which also features limited-overs matches against Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Administrators regard the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last season as an outstanding success, attracting 123,000 spectators and an average television audience of two million.

However, players from both sides complained about the pink ball's movement and durability, as well as the difficulty batsmen faced seeing it under lights. South Africa plays the first Test against Australia in Perth from November 3-7, followed by a second in Hobart before the Adelaide day-nighter.

Pakistan also plays three Tests in Australia this summer, with a day-night Test in Brisbane.