David Leggat: Ashes set to Duke it out over leather, pink ball test

Kookaburra had a shocker a year ago, when New Zealand were one of the visiting teams, repeatedly having balls replaced. Photo / Dean Purcell

Next summer's Ashes series looks like having an extra edge. Not only have England agreed to play a day-night test, but British ball manufacturer Duke have added a spark to the preparation by offering to provide the balls, in opposition to Australian provider Kookaburra.

Kookaburra had a shocker a year ago, when New Zealand were one of the visiting teams, repeatedly having balls replaced. They have been better this summer but Duke are pushing hard to nudge the iconic Australian company aside.

Initially, the idea of a pink ball test in the Ashes series was seen as "not on". This suggested a view that while it was all very well for the likes of Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies to play pink ball tests, it wasn't fit for the most celebrated of all cricket rivalries, and one on which so much of the game's history stems.

However Australia's captain Steve Smith has spoken in favour of the concept, after Australia beat South Africa in the third test at Adelaide last month.

England's captain Alistair Cook isn't a fan. But England are expected to play their first day-night test, against the West Indies in their next summer.

Cricket Australia have been the driving force around the International Cricket Council table for pink ball tests, reckoning them a chance to get more numbers through the turnstiles.

Certainly the inaugural test, in Adelaide late last year against New Zealand, was a huge success.

There was a view that as England hold the Ashes, why would they want to put as risk the old urn in a format in which Australia will have had more exposure.

By the time of the Ashes series, they will have played at least three day-night tests, remembering they play Pakistan under lights this month.

Adelaide is the likely venue again for a day-night Ashes test. It seems to be positioning itself as the go-to venue for them in Australia. But there's a complication.

The early suggestion is England would want the first test of the series to be the pink ball match. That has traditionally been the domain of the Gabba in Brisbane.

Perth hosted the first test this season, and Australia got a beating from South Africa and the game was generally derided as a flop on a range of fronts. So a return to Brisbane is on the cards.

Adelaide are preparing a push but would rather the match was centred around January 26, Australia Day.

So would an Ashes test under lights provide the final seal of approval for a concept which still doesn't draw universal applause?

There's plenty of water to flow under this bridge. Still, it's a thought to ponder. Who would ever have thought the Ashes would be played under lights, and with an English ball in Australia to boot?