Gabba D/N presents new challenge: Smith

Australia captain Steve Smith says the Adelaide Oval is his preferred Australian venue for day-night Test matches, adding the atmospheric conditions in Brisbane could tilt a pink-ball contest even further in favour of fast bowlers.

Australia will play at least one day-night Test this coming summer, against Pakistan at the Gabba, with a second pink-ball match against South Africa in Adelaide proposed but not yet confirmed.

Despite the enormous commercial success of the inaugural day-night Test in Adelaide last summer, which Smith labelled "absolutely remarkable", the skipper and several of his teammates have expressed their concerns about the visibility and durability of the pink Kookaburra ball, as well as the thick covering off grass that was left on the pitch to prevent the ball from deteriorating too quickly.

The combination of a swinging pink ball and a greener than normal surface in Adelaide resulted in a low-scoring contest against New Zealand last summer, with the match lasting just three days and just two batsmen posting half-centuries.

The dominance of the bowlers in Adelaide was particularly noteworthy in the middle of a Test summer that was dominated by batsmen; the second Test in Perth that preceded the match in Adelaide ended in a draw after 1672 runs were scored over five days, including two double centuries and four individual hundreds.

Smith is concerned the likely combination of a green surface for the day-night match against Pakistan at the Gabba and the traditional Brisbane humidity could provide significant movement for the faster bowlers and result in an even shorter contest than in Adelaide last summer.

"It's just a little different with the ball and the humidity that's quite often around in Brisbane," Smith said on Monday ahead of his departure for Australia's Qantas Tour of the West Indies.

"That could be very difficult for the batters, particularly if there's going to be grass left on the wicket.

"There's only one way to see how it's going to go and we've got a chance to do that against Pakistan this year.

"I think it worked pretty well in Adelaide last year. I think we were 2mm of grass away from it being a four-day game as opposed to a three-day game.

"I think it's certainly a place where it can be successful so I'd be happy to play another day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.

"I think we still need plenty of development with the ball to make sure they don't have to prepare a wicket that suits the ball with plenty of grass on it.

"I'm interested to see how it goes and hopefully it'll be a success."

Cricket Australia officials and their South African counterparts are still in discussions about a pink-ball Test in Adelaide this summer, with South Africa's players concerned their relative lack of experience with the pink ball could hand the Australians a significant advantage.

Last month, Proteas captain AB de Villiers revealed he spoke to several Australian players - including Smith - about their concerns surrounding the pink ball during their recent T20 series in South Africa.

De Villiers is one of several South African players to express his opposition to a day-night Test in Adelaide, with the players associations of both countries also publically declaring their reluctance for the match on November 24-28 to be played under lights.

Smith expects the Australian and South African players to have further informal discussions in the course of their one-day international tri-series in the Caribbean next month, which starts in Guyana a week from Friday.

But he added players from all countries would have to get used to playing with the pink ball, especially given several other countries - including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and England - have hinted they will also host a Test under lights in the near future.

"We can have always conversations about it with some of the senior players in South Africa, but in the end it's up to both boards (and) what they want to do in regards to the game," he said.

"I think the players have to buy into it as well. At the end of the day, we're the ones out there doing the job and it is our job so we have to make sure it's right for us.

"We want to win as much as possible and we have to find a way to do that with the pink ball.

"(Other countries have) obviously spoken a little bit about it. I don't think they've actually tested it too much in those other countries so I'm sure they'll do that over the next little period.

"I'm sure it's going to be part of the future, playing maybe one or two Tests with pink balls in a series.

"And I think it's exciting for the game."

Australia's three-Test series against South Africa begins in Perth on November 3 before the second Commonwealth Bank Test in Hobart and the series finale in Adelaide.