Day Night Tests: Only 6 Countries Host Despite 9 Years of Hype
When the International Cricket Council approved day-night Test matches in October 2012, many administrators heralded the move as the start of a new era. The plan was simple: make cricket’s longest format more accessible, especially to fans who cannot watch during traditional daytime hours. “This is all about new audiences and doing all we could to make the game more accessible at every level,” said former ECB chief executive Tom Harrison as England prepared for their first pink-ball fixture a few years later.
Cricket Australia echoed the sentiment. “Test cricket is played at times when most people are at work or school. We limit ourselves by staging cricket’s premium format at times when fans often cannot watch,” said then CEO James Sutherland.
More than a decade on, the experiment has produced mixed results. Of 554 Tests played since approval, only 24 have been staged under lights. Outside Australia, the most committed supporter of the concept, there have been just 11 pink-ball games from a possible 486. England and South Africa staged their only day-night Tests in 2017. West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand have hosted two each and India three. By contrast, this week’s second Test at the Gabba is Australia’s 14th.
For Cricket Australia, the business case is clear. Pink-ball Tests generate bigger TV audiences and higher revenue. They provide a rare east-coast prime-time fixture, second only to Perth’s time zone advantage. The inaugural match against New Zealand in 2015 averaged 1.46 million viewers across five major cities, a 27% increase on that year’s Perth Test. A similar spike followed against South Africa in 2016. In 2017, 42% of metropolitan viewers watched parts of the first Ashes day-nighter. Last year’s Test against India saw almost every session draw more than a million viewers.
Day Night Tests
Those numbers have helped fuel enormous broadcast growth. CA’s annual TV deal rose from A$45m to A$100m in 2013, then to A$197m in 2018 and A$216m in 2023. Spectators too enjoy a different spectacle, particularly in Adelaide, which has hosted eight of the fixtures. “What they have done with the pink ball Test is pretty awesome, how they have made it an event,” said Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne.
Elsewhere, the returns have not been as appealing. When West Indies hosted Australia in July it marked just the third day-night Test outside Australia this decade. The home side were skittled for 27 in their second innings and are unlikely to rush back for more.
India held three day-night Tests, all finishing inside three days. One ended on day two. “Spectators lose money, broadcasters lose money,” said Jay Shah, now chair of the ICC. “This was not the idea.”
Pakistan initially pushed for innovation, inviting Sri Lanka to the world’s first day-night Test in 2013. They declined, but West Indies played in Dubai in 2016 and Sri Lanka followed in 2017. “In principle, the PCB is supportive of trying innovative ideas,” said then chief executive Subhan Ahmed. Fans in the UAE were less enthusiastic and poor attendances, combined with heavy dew, halted further trials.
New Zealand tried hosting one in 2018, but two days were washed out and crowds were thin. It took five years before a second and so far final attempt.
A major obstacle remains visibility. Boards see limited financial benefit, while many players struggle to see the pink ball. Before its adoption, manufacturers tested several colours including yellow and orange. Pakistan trialled an orange ball in a 2016 T20 event. “It was a horrible experience for fielders,” said Misbah-ul-Haq. “Some catches even fell on their heads.” Yellow looked blurry on television.
Kookaburra eventually tested 16 shades of pink and three seam colours before settling on a final design. After complaints, the seam changed from white and green to black. “It is easier than the white seam,” Joe Root said. “That was a nightmare.”
Science has revealed another issue. Around sunset, shorter wavelengths scatter and red light dominates. This changes the contrast between ball and background, making it harder to see. The pink Kookaburra also swings more than its red counterpart when new, meaning a fresh ball at twilight in a place like Brisbane, where humidity already helps seamers, can wreak havoc.
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Wary players initially resisted day-night Tests so strongly that Cricket Australia increased prizemoney by A$1m to secure their participation in 2015. Some anxiety remains. England’s camp entered this week’s match warned about “wickets falling in clumps” at twilight.
Coloured lenses could help, but few players use them. Once darkness fully sets in and floodlights take over, visibility improves.
Still, others see little difference. Travis Head, who has scored 30% of his Test centuries in day-night matches despite playing only 15% of his innings under lights, shrugged off concerns. “If you win you think it is great and if you lose maybe not,” he said. Australia have won 14 of 15 pink-ball Tests and Head nine of his 10.
“I think it is great. It still works the same way, still five days, it is just with a slightly different colour ball. Pink ball, white ball, red ball, who really cares?”
