Why South Africa don't want to play a day-night test

Australia might need to stump up some cash if they want to play South Africa in a day-night test. Photo /Getty

South Africa's cricketers have taken a dim view of a proposed day-night test in Adelaide next summer and Australia may have to splash the cash to change their mind.

Australia has unofficially slated day-night tests against South Africa in Adelaide and Pakistan in Brisbane next season but South Africa's players remains deeply sceptical of the concept.

Given South Africa has beaten Australia twice in test series in Australia in recent times the Proteas have much to live up to and are wary of being part of the day-night experiment.

South African players union boss Tony Irish, who is also president of the international players body FICA, said the players caution was understandable.

"From a South African point of view the players feel it would be extremely disadvantageous to agree to playing a day-nighter at this stage and in such a big series. I think it's highly unlikely that Cricket South Africa will agree," Irish told South Africa's Super Sport.

"Not a single one of our players has played with the pink ball under lights at any level of cricket and, despite the fairly widespread praise of the concept in Australia, player feedback from Australia and New Zealand indicates that there are still significant on field concerns," said Tony Irish, chief executive of the SA Cricketers Association.

"A number of players from both teams said they had trouble seeing the ball in the evening and that conditions had to be doctored to preserve the condition of the ball," said Irish.

"The players are not totally against the concept or anti innovation but feel that this is still very experimental and this is obviously an important series for them.

"They don't want to be out there not knowing what to expect in what could be a match which decides the series. More work needs to be done on making the ball more durable."

Cricket Australia put a million dollar purse up for grabs in the first day-night test won by Australia against New Zealand last summer as a sweetener to both teams.

CA officials were adamant the concept worked so well they would not offer financial inducements again for future day-night Tests but if South Africa refuse to play they may have to open the purse strings again.

A player survey conducted with those involved in the game found that there was significant concerns over the pink ball with 70% suggesting it was not easy to see when batting or field at dusk and 85% claiming the day-night conditions affected the length of the match.

- news.com.au