Sutherland reveals Indian officials have reached out about playing Test under lights during pivotal Australia tour next autumn
India keen for d/n Test when Aussies tour
Steve Smith's team could be set for their first day-night Test on foreign soil when they return to India next year.
India are planning to host their first day-night Test against New Zealand later this year, and the pink-ball format continues to gain a foothold with Pakistan also interested in playing Sri Lanka under lights.
Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said Indian authorities had already reached out about pitting Smith and co against Virat Kohli's Test team next year.
"I think there's certainly some positive signals coming out of India and other parts of the world (regarding day-night Tests)," Sutherland said on Big Sports Breakfast radio.
"Indicatively they've started to talking to us about the prospect of playing a day-night Test match against Australia when Australia tours in February and March of next year.
"That's just a pretty strong indicator of where things are at.
"When you look at the big picture it's probably not surprising because day-night Test cricket is just a no-brainer really, giving more opportunities for fans to get along to the cricket and watch it on TV."
An expected four-Test series in India next autumn would be Australia's first trip back to the subcontinent for Tests since the nadir of the 'homeworkgate' fiasco under Mickey Arthur. The team was whitewashed 4-0 by India but turned things around with the sacking of Arthur who was replaced by current head coach Darren Lehmann.
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Sutherland also said it was "all systems go" for a planned day-night Test against South Africa in Adelaide, although the fixture has yet to be confirmed as a pink-ball match under lights.
"At our end we're all systems go for Adelaide as a day-night Test match," Sutherland said.
"We're still working through a couple of things with our South African colleagues and their players' association, but I'm very optimistic we'll get there.
"I think there's a huge level of expectation in Adelaide after the success of last year – 124,000 people in three days of Test cricket. It's a compelling proposition: you've just got to make it happen."
While CA continues to negotiate with South African authorities, Sutherland hinted CA could take a hard-line approach.
Asked by host Terry Kennedy why CA didn't "just schedule it" and force the issue, Sutherland replied: "It's interesting you say that, because by my reading, technically, if you think about one-day cricket, as host country we can decide whether we play a one-day match starting 10am or 2.30pm. No one else has any say in it, so why can't we do the same thing with a Test match."
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The Australia captain this week said last summer's inaugural day-night Test was "an amazing spectacle" but improvements were needed.
"I thought if there was two millimetres less grass (on the pitch) it would've been a four-day game instead of a three-day game," Smith said on Back Page Live.
"The ball still has got a few issues. You need to keep grass on the wicket to keep the ball together, which I don't particularly like, but we're trying to work our way though that as much as possible to make sure we keep it going."
Sutherland said CA was understanding of "mixed views" from players.
"We understand there's some mixed views for players in transition, still getting their heads around it, not necessarily perfect for them," he said.
"A lot of our players see the big picture."