Cricket Australia announce 2016-17 summer fixtures

Cricket Australia announce 2016-17 summer fixtures

Cricket Australia (CA) has released schedule for Australia’s summer of cricket against four visiting nations on Wednesday morning, confirming South Africa will not play day night Test at Adelaide hoping to overcome country’s objections. South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan will will visit Australia for their respective series during the span of 2016-17. Australia will play three Test series against South Africa and Pakistan, one day series against New Zealand and Pakistan and three T20 internationals against Sri Lanka. That includes 41 days of cricket. Meanwhile CA chief James Sutherland wants to convince South African players to change their mind. READ: Cricket Australia Board of Directors: John Harnden fills in gap created by demise of John

Sutherland told The Australia, “We are working with Cricket South Africa with a view to ensuring that the Adelaide Test is a Day-Night Test. With more than 123,000 people attending and an average of two million watching on television last season, there is enormous expectation that we deliver another pink ball Test match this summer in Adelaide. Understandably, there is some concern from the South African players, but Day-Night Test cricket is all about the fans and a Day-Night match in Adelaide will be a bigger Test match crowd than the South African players will have ever experienced. The success of Adelaide last year demonstrates the huge potential the day-night format has in revitalising Test cricket all over the world, and it’s for that reason that it is our desire to stage another Test under lights at that venue.”

He further added, “We believe that having the ability to move matches into the evenings provides cricket fans with greater access to the game, both at the ground and at home on TV, and there is no doubt that this will help grow interest in Test cricket. Even for cricket fans at home in South Africa there are benefits. The Day-Night Test hours will allow the match to be televised in a far more attractive time of day in South Africa.” READ: Cricket Australia announces contracted players list for 2016-17