Pollock suggests D/N Test in South Africa

South African legend Shaun Pollock says the Proteas could play one of their Tests against New Zealand in August as a day-night match on order for players to prepare for another pink-ball showdown against Australia in November.

The third Test of the upcoming three-match series between Australia and South Africa will be played at the Adelaide Oval from November 24 but it remains to be seen if it will be a day-night contest or a traditional red-ball affair.

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Cricket Australia are keen to build on the enormous success of the inaugural pink-ball Test last November, but the Proteas are yet to commit to the concept.

One of the chief concerns of the Proteas - vocalised by the South African Cricketers Association boss Tony Irish as well as star players AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn - is that they will be at a disadvantage given they are yet to play with the pink ball, while Australia's players have the experience of last year's Test and several Sheffield Shield matches to draw on.

But Pollock, a member of the MCC World Cricket committee that successfully lobbied for day-night Tests - says the two-Test series against the Black Caps in August is the perfect chance for the Proteas to get a feel for the pink ball and then commit to another day-night contest in Adelaide.

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"I fully understand their point of view. You don’t want to give an advantage to Australia," Pollock told Lords.org.

"It’s always been such a keenly contested series and you can understand how South Africa want it to be an even battle. 

"Maybe a solution for them would be in the Test series coming up against New Zealand in August. That could be a chance to play with the pink ball, and maybe the (first Test at Kingsmead) in Durban.

"There is a good chance there will be a light issue in that game because it comes at the back end of the South African winter and with the pink ball you wouldn’t have to take the players off for bad light.

"That might be a solution."

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Playing a day-night Test against NZ would fulfil Steyn's belief that the Proteas would need just one or two first-class matches with the pink ball in order to prepare adequately to take on the Aussies under lights in Adelaide.

While De Villiers believes playing with the pink ball is not "something that you acclimatise to in one match", Steyn told cricket.com.au this week it wouldn't take too much match practice for the Proteas to get used to the different ball.  

"I think maybe even one game so the boys can get accustomed to it," the speedster said.

"You can practice as much as you want in the nets but when you get out into the middle and there's pressure and all that kind of stuff you do tend to play differently.

"One first-class game, maybe two first-class games and I think the boys will be extremely into it."

The Black Caps played two tour matches with the pink ball in Australia before the day-night Test last summer; a one-day game under lights at Manuka Oval and then a two-day hit-out at the WACA Ground in the week leading up to the Test in Adelaide.

While the schedule for South Africa's practice matches on their Australian tour is yet to be released, there is a gap of at least eight days between the second and third Tests, giving ample time for a warm-up game with the pink ball before the match in Adelaide.

Pollock said he understands the concerns of players regarding the pink ball - which centre on its durability and visibility in the twilights hours - but he says uncertainty comes with any new innovation in the game.

"When (one-day) day-night cricket came along everyone was a bit concerned about playing with the white ball till late, under lights," he said.

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"But I think once you’ve done it and been exposed to it, you form a different opinion.

"I think it’s a case in point where everyone needs to experience it at least on one occasion and then they can have a better idea about what to expect and whether they feel if it can be successful or not." 

India announced this week they were planning to play a day-night Test against the Blacks Caps later this year.

New Zealand's two-Test series against South Africa begins in Durban on August 19 ahead of the second match in Centurion from August 27.

South Africa's Test series in Australia gets underway at the WACA Ground on November 3.