Australia and New Zealand will play cricket's first day-night Test in Adelaide at the end of the year as the Black Caps prepare for more regular matches against their trans-Tasman rivals.
Brendon McCullum Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The test will be played in Adelaide starting on 27 November, the historic clash - part of a three Test series carrying a total prize pool of $1 million,
It will usher in a new era of trans-Tasman tussles, including a total of 10 Tests and eight Chappell Hadlee series over the next seven years.
The Test will feature pink balls that Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland believes will hold up to Test match play.
The Black Caps and Australia, who played in front of the biggest cricket crowd ever officially recorded during the ICC Cricket World Cup final, will meet in a total of 28 ODIs in that seven year period.
NZC chief executive David White said there were good reasons for being part of the day-night Test initiative, and even better ones for cultivating a closer working relationship with Cricket Australia.
"In today's world, Test cricket is relatively inaccessible to the public - particularly during the non-holiday and non-weekend periods," he said.
"This is a concept that allows more people to access the event, either by direct attendance or by watching on television."
The New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills said the players recognised the significance of the seven-year trans-Tasman agreement.
"The team at NZC have done a great job in securing an agreement which has significant content and an enhanced Chappell-Hadlee programme," he said.
"This is a fantastic outcome for the game in our country."
"It's fair to say our players are nervous about the day-night Test. It's uncharted territory and because of that there will be uncertainty and apprehension."
"However, whilst the players have reservations about playing Test cricket at night, they see the bigger picture in the new agreement, and the greater good it brings to all levels of the game in New Zealand."
The first Test of this summer's series will be staged at Brisbane from November 5th-9th; the second at Perth from November 13th-17th, with at least two warm-up games under lights using a pink ball - ahead of the historic third Test at Adelaide.
"We're really confident with the work that has been done over the past few years, we have had two successive seasons of Sheffield Shield cricket where pink balls have been trialled," Sutherland said in a statement.
"We have worked very closely with the Australian Cricketers Association and Kookaburra in the development of the ball and its continued upgrade to make it ready."
"We'll make sure that the players from both teams are well prepared."
"We're working really closely with New Zealand Cricket in giving them the right tour matches and preparation before the ultimate day-night Test which is the last of the series."
The Australian coach Darren Lehmann said the concept was exciting.
"It's going to be history isn't it?" he said in a statement.
"It's a great Test match traditionally and now the day-night Test match adds something special to it."
"It's going to be exceptional to see everyone turning up for the first one ever in Test match cricket."
