Cricket Australia (CA) says the December 6-10 Test at Adelaide Oval will be a day match after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined its overtures for a pink-ball clash.
It stops a run of three day-night Tests at the ground over the past three summers against New Zealand, South Africa and England.
“Whilst we appreciate some Adelaide fans may be disappointed, we know how popular the Adelaide Test is and look forward to hosting India there in December,” said a CA spokesman.
“We are committed to hosting at least one day-night Test each home summer as part of our continued focus to grow Test cricket, and we are excited about the day-night Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba in January.”
The SACA was also putting a positive spin on the BCCI’s decision.
SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw said the benefits of hosting “the world’s most popular Test team” at Adelaide Oval outweighed the loss of the day/night format.
“We would love, down the track, to host India in a day/night Test match at Adelaide Oval,” Bradshaw said in a statement.
“We are, however, also positive that our Test match next summer will still be a big winner with SACA members and cricket fans.
“It will be Australia’s first home Test of the season – against the world No 1 ranked Test side India – and there will be enormous interest both here and abroad.”
He pointed out that the last Test against India at Adelaide Oval, in 2014, attracted more than 113,000 fans – a venue record for Australia-India Tests.
– with AAP
