Adelaide day-night spectacle uncertain

The fate of a day-night Test in Adelaide against India this summer remains clouded amid unconfirmed media reports the Board of Control for Cricket in India remains opposed to the idea.

Australia are set to play six Tests in 2018-19, four against India and two against Sri Lanka, with the full fixture expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

While the dates of the Adelaide Test would be confirmed as part of that announcement, whether the match is a pink-ball affair or a traditional day Test might not be determined until later in the year.

Such a scenario occurred in 2016; in April that year, Cricket Australia confirmed the dates but not the timings of the Adelaide Test against South Africa before it was announced two months later the Proteas had agreed to play the match under lights.

India are one of just two nations yet to play a day-night Test, while Australia have won all four pink-ball matches they've played.

India's reluctance to buy into the concept in the past means they would cede an advantage to the Australians, who have plenty of experience against the pink ball, if they were to play a Test under lights.

The Adelaide Test has been a day-night affair for the past three seasons and the high crowd numbers and increased television ratings means officials at both Cricket Australia (CA) and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) are keen for that to continue.

"Each time we play in Adelaide, when we played in Brisbane, it further reinforces that this is the future, day-night Test cricket is here to stay," CA CEO James Sutherland told ABC Radio last December.

"It's a different-coloured ball, and perhaps it does play differently. Everyone has to face up to those conditions, no matter what they are, and I think everyone’s got their head around that now.

"As we’ve discussed at ICC level, it’s very much in the hands of the home country to make judgments on what they think is best."

While the home board determines playing conditions of Test matches, such as start times and the brand of ball used, the ICC's regulations specify that the visiting board needs to agree to playing a Test as a day-night contest.

Section 12.7.12 of the ICC's Playing Conditions states: "Home Boards may, prior to the commencement of a Test, and with the agreement of the Visiting Board, seek the approval of the ICC to play the match as a day/night Test".

A report in the Times of India on Saturday quoted an unnamed source who said India were opposed to playing a day-night Tests both in Australia and at home against West Indies in October.

Last month, the Windies agreed to play a pink-ball Test during their scheduled two-Test tour of India, which would have given Virat Kohli's side some crucial practice under lights ahead of a day-night match in Adelaide.

But the TOI report suggests that proposal is in jeopardy.

"There's no need for any practice either because India is neither going to play the Adelaide Test under lights nor any (such matches) in the future," the source was quoted as saying.

On Sunday, a CA spokesperson said the process of determining the full fixture for the summer is still being worked through.

"We are currently finalising the detail of these tours with respective member boards," the spokesperson said.

"Scheduling of any sport has its complexities, with a number of parties that need to be consulted throughout the process.

"As soon as we have the 2018-19 home international schedule finalised, we will look to make an announcement on this."