Nine hope day-night Test is game changer

Nine Network's head of sport Steve Crawley can understand why some are reluctant about Test cricket's step into the unknown with Friday's first ever day-night five-day match, which will be broadcast in high definition.

"They love Test cricket," Crawley says. "We love Test cricket too.

"But you've got to grow numbers to be successful. This is Test cricket's first chance in a long time to grow."

Nine have embraced that chance, doing a mountain of work alongside Cricket Australia to deliver the inaugural day-night Test.

CA has long been conscious of the public's interest in attending Test cricket, especially for series involving tourists other than England. The sample size is too small but the early signs are positive – ticket sales for the pink-ball clash at the Adelaide Oval are at Ashes levels.

The chance to beam cricket's pinnacle into households in prime time – and a resultant boom in broadcast rights – has also motivated CA to push the concept despite the moderate reservations of players.

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The major talking point surrounding the match starting on Friday largely surround the pink ball, which has been rigorously tested and developed for more than two years in the lead-up to this match. The worst fear among the naysayers is the ball deteriorates to the point a near-capacity crowd struggles to see it.

Crawley prefers to see the reward if the world-first event is a success.

His vision is that an annual day-night Test becomes one of the most popular Australian sporting events in coming years, alongside the network's showpiece rugby league State of Origin series.

"It could have a place in that mix. It's prime-time Test cricket ... but it's got to earn a place," he said.

"It's got a bit to prove yet. Cricket Australia gets bagged a lot, but good on them for having the courage and foresight to do something as brazen as this.

"I'm really hoping that this is great success and it feels like it can be.

"It's up to everyone now to sit back, have a look and see what it's like."

The second Test's viewership suggests Nine has reason to be excited in that regard.

Almost a million fans tuned in to the third session on day four in Perth, broadcast in prime time due to the different time zone.

It was the most watched non-news program of the night, outranking popular reality shows The Block and The X Factor.

The match in Adelaide will have the added curiosity factor of being the inaugural night session of Test cricket, while it will be the first local Test broadcast in high definition.

"We never say what we're thinking in terms of figures," Crawley said.

"But if there's going to be almost 50,000 people there and it's going to be played at night, you'd think the figures would be bigger than normal."

Ian Chappell, a leading figure in Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket revolution, will be calling the game.

As was the case in 1977, Chappell senses there is genuine excitement among his colleagues.

"Certainly in the commentary box. I'm sure there will be a bit of trepidation out in the middle, especially those batsmen who are batting at the changeover from day to night," Chappell said.

"For the good of the game it's got to happen eventually.

"Provided they get the ball right, day-night Test cricket is a must."

There were concerns raised about how visible the old pink ball will be on TV and whether ball-tracking technology would work with the new colour.

Crawley is confident they won't be issues.

"We did our last lot of tracking privately at Adelaide Oval and it went very well. I think we're ready," he said.