Pakistan's pace attack makes long-awaited Test debut under lights a salivating prospect
Pakistan see the light for first day-night Test
Almost three-and-a-half years after putting their hand up to host the first-ever day-night Test match, Pakistan will finally make their long-awaited debut against the pink ball when they take on Australia at the Gabba in December.
The match in Brisbane will be the culmination of Pakistan's long-held enthusiasm for the concept of Test cricket under lights, with players and administrators from the country vocally and repeatedly promoting day-night Tests as the way forward for the five-day game.
More than two years before Australia hosted the historic pink-ball Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last summer, the Pakistan Cricket Board had proposed to play a day-night Test against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates in the summer of 2013-14.
Quick single: Four nations set to tour in blockbuster 2016-17 summer
The Sri Lankans declined – as is their right under International Cricket Council guidelines – citing a lack of practice with the pink ball as their major concern, foreshadowingSouth Africa's current reluctance to embrace the concept when they join Pakistan on Australian soil this summer.
While it remains unclear whether or not the Adelaide Oval will host a Test under lights in November, Pakistan's willingness means Brisbane will mark the 85th anniversary of its first ever Test match with a day-night contest between the current first and fourth ranked Test nations.
Image Id: ~/media/D654FA03CBE84056B34EC55489B14116 Image Caption: The Gabba will host Pakistan in a day-night Test this summer // GettyAnd given the pink ball's tendency to swing under lights, Pakistan's dangerous pace attack led by Mohammad Amir and fellow left-armer Wahab Riaz should prove to be more than a handful for Australia's run-hungry batting line-up.
"Pakistan should be applauded for committing to and supporting the day-night Test initiative," Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said when announcing the schedule for the 2016-17 Australian summer on Wednesday.
"Their current bowling line up will put our batsmen to the test and I have no doubt this will be their major strength in the series.
"Day-night Test cricket, combined with this attack, will promise fans an exciting spectacle and we look forward to seeing a packed Gabba to welcome them."
Quick single: South Africa must see big picture, says Sutherland
The PCB has long been supportive of day-night Test cricket and the Gabba Test could be another significant step towards hosting pink-ball Tests of their own.
The PCB are pushing for day-night Tests in their adopted home of the UAE – Test cricket hasn't been played in Pakistan since 2009 due to security concerns – to enable fans to attend the match after work hours and avoid the empty stands that currently lay witness to their 'home' Tests.
"In principle, the PCB is supportive of and inclined towards accepting and trying out innovative ideas and new technologies," Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told cricket.com.au in November when they confirmed an approach from CA to play a day-night Tests in the 2016-17 summer.
"And this includes the proposal of playing Test matches under lights.
"We believe that in certain climates and seasons, Test cricket can and should be played under lights to enhance and revive waning spectator interest in this format of the game."
Image Id: ~/media/496C459FB8794E8A867B7162FCD56EDA Image Caption: The Adelaide day-night Test broke attendance and television records in 2015 // GettyThe PCB took another significant step into the twilight in January when the final of the 2015-16 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the country’s premier first-class tournament, was played as a day-night fixture in Karachi.
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final had been played twice under artificial lights before; using an orange ball in 2010-11 and a pink ball in 2011-12, while the PCB also held a T20 tournament in Karachi in 2006 using orange balls.
Quick single: Steyn would 'love' to play a day-night Test
But the 2015-16 domestic final saw players from both teams echo concerns of players around the world about the performance of the pink ball under lights.
Just five batsmen in the match between United Bank Limited and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited managed to pass fifty and none of them pushed on to three figures, while fast bowlers took 27 of the 34 wickets to fall.
Tellingly, only the best batsmen thrived in the conditions; Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq posted two half-centuries, while batting great Younis Khan (98), 45-Test veteran Azhar Ali (56) and current international Sharjeel Khan (73 from 77 balls) were the other players to post a half-century.
While the ball used in the final was not the current version of the pink Kookaburra, batsmen and fielders on both sides reported difficulties seeing the ball.
Quick single: 2016-17 summer schedule details
However, most players – led by the ageless Misbah – remained focused on the bigger picture.
"With heavy dew in Karachi, the conditions became extremely difficult for batsmen, especially under the lights," Misbah said.
"The new pink ball was seaming a lot, the moisture on the pitch made it tough for the batsmen. Even lining up for high catches for fielders was a challenge as the visibility of the ball wasn't all that great. Perhaps the players need more time to get familiar with the ball.
"These day-night Test matches are required, as cricket has become commercial now like other sports.
"What is important is to keep on evolving and it's important for the public interest and as a professional player we also have to get used to it.
"Considering the future with day-night cricket, I think everyone should be playing it and in Pakistan domestic cricket every team should get at least two or three matches every season and not just the final.
"The tradition of Test cricket should remain intact but it's fair to do the development and keep on trying to bring innovation.
"The experiment may or may not work or it might not be practical or suitable, but there is no harm in carrying it out for the best interest of the game."
Quick single: How your state reacted to the 2016-17 schedule
The next significant step for Pakistan will come in Brisbane at the end of the year, the opening match of their first Test series in Australia in six years.
And unleashing a pace attack led by Amir and Wahab as well as fellow left-armers Junaid Khan and Rahat Ali under lights may well serve to only increase the nation's enthusiasm for the day-night Test initiative.