SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Cricket Australia has bolstered its campaign to host a day-night test against South Africa later this year by publishing an interview with captain Steve Smith in which he backed the proposed fixture.
South Africa’s players balked at an invitation to play a day-night match in Adelaide in November after discussions with Australian players including Smith, Proteas skipper AB De Villiers said this week.
Smith, however, said his team would be happy to play a day-nighter against South Africa at the famous South Australian venue, as well as the fixture already scheduled to be played under lights at the Gabba against Pakistan in December.
“I’m surprised that he named me,” Smith was quoted as saying from India on the Cricket Australia (CA) website. “The feedback we gave them was that Adelaide is the best place to play it, in our opinion.
“We’re playing one in Brisbane now, but Adelaide is the best place to play it and I think it could work there.
“I don’t know where they’ve got their ideas from,” he added. “If they wanted to play one we’d be happy to.”
Cricket Australia are determined to reprise the success of last year’s inaugural day-night test against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval.
The test attracted huge crowds but lasted only three of the scheduled five days on a wicket especially prepared to offset durability problems with the pink ball.
De Villiers also highlighted concerns over visibility of the pink ball.
Cricket Australia are continuing their talks over the fixture with their South Africa counterparts and it looks likely that CA Chief Executive James Sutherland might have to get his cheque book out again.
CA committed an additional A$1 million ($762,400) in prize money for the series to help overcome reluctance from Australia and New Zealand players about using the pink ball in Adelaide.
