Cricket: What the future holds for day-night tests

Get used to day-night tests being a regular fixture in the future. Photo / Getty

Don't be surprised to see a conveyer belt of day-night test matches rolled out in the next few years.

It's hard to find serious criticism of the concept, even though the inaugural event lasted less than three days. Refunds were being handed out for fourth day ticket holders.

On a pitch deliberately made grassier to help protect the condition of the pink ball, bowlers lapped it up, batsman floundered and spectators seemed stirred by being part of a rousing atmosphere.

Spotting the pink pill was not always straightforward, and it would be instructive to get a handful of the players to open up on what they really made of it.

A total of 123,736 people turned up to watch the three days. It was by a distance the most interesting test of the series, although the uniqueness of the occasion was always likely to guarantee that.

Certainly as New Zealand strove mightily in the dying overs to snatch victory away from Australia, it was compelling viewing, and if you like your action thick and fast, this was the match for you.

As Trent Boult's deliveries, in particular, showed up on the big screen, swerving past the outside edge of Australia bats, there were loud roars of approval.

Remember it was designed as a trial match. New Zealand were willing participants - at least New Zealand Cricket were, and the players were sweetened by a financial deal.

Queensland officials are already lining up a test against South Africa next summer at the Gabba; South Australian administrators have Pakistan in their sights in a year's time.

Officials from around the game were in Adelaide to see how it panned out.

It is limited to certain parts of the world.

England would be wrong. Sitting rugged up, wearing thermals at Leeds in May? No thanks.

The United Arab Emirates, where Pakistan play their home matches, is a different story.

NZC have indicated they're having a good look at next summer, if a round of Plunket Shield matches early next year pays off.

India? Why not? They play to empty stadiums. South Africa? Ditto.

Call it a global experiment. This match was loaded towards the bowlers, and no problem with that. Too often it's the bat calling the tune.

When New Zealand beat Australia in Hobart on a bright green pitch four years ago, the-then Australian captain Michael Clarke, a fine batsman, made it abundantly clear there'd be no complaints from him. The bowlers deserved their day.

Both skippers, Steve Smith and Brendon McCullum, had some reservations on the amount of grass left on the pitch, but broadly speaking neither had a major beef with the idea.

''To me it's a great concept," McCullum said of the day-night development.

''Overall it was a roaring success, people are voting with their feet and I think it's here to stay, which is great."

It should stay the exception, not the rule though. Administrators need to be careful to avoid being part of a pink ball stampede. A pile more thought and careful planning needs to be done.

But the foundation has been laid in Adelaide.