MELBOURNE: Australian cricket chiefs are still trying to convince reluctant Indian board to play a day-night Test in Adelaide this year after releasing their international playing schedule on Monday.

Cricket Australia have scheduled the opening Test of the four-Test India series in Adelaide from Dec 6 to 10, with hopes it will be a pink ball match following concept successes against New Zealand, South Africa and England in recent years.

Australia have won all three day/night Tests against New Zealand, South Africa and England, while India have never played a floodlit match.

South Africa were initially reluctant to play their 2016 Test under lights at Adelaide, fearing the hosts would have an unfair advantage. The tourists lost by seven wickets.

Australia believe day-night Test cricket is the future of the sport and perhaps the only way to save the format despite boom television ratings and record crowds.

But the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have so far resisted CA’s overtures.

CA will play a pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka in Brisbane next year, but chief executive James Sutherland said he was still negotiating with India.

“It is our preference that we play India in a day-night Test match in Adelaide, but we are still working through this detail and hope to have an answer on this in the coming weeks,” he said.

Sutherland has been pushing hard at International Cricket Council level for the new Test Championship schedule to include day-night Tests, but the powerful BCCI has a big say in outcomes.

CA confirmed Australia will face South Africa in a one-off Twenty20 International on Queensland’s Gold Coast, while the new Perth Stadium and Canberra’s Manuka Oval will both host Test cricket for the first time. But Hobart misses out.

The international season starts on Nov 4 with the first of three ODIs against South Africa before the one-off T20 against the Proteas on the Gold Coast, which will be followed by three T20s against India preceding the start of the Test summer.

“Our men’s international season structure changes slightly this summer, with one-day and T20 international matches against South Africa and India in November,” Sutherland said.

Adelaide opens the Test series against India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and second Test will be at the Perth Stadium in Burswood, across the Swan river from the city’s traditional Test venue, the WACA.

The series then moves back to Melbourne and Sydney for the traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s showpiece games.

The Gabba in Brisbane, which usually hosts the first Test of the Australian summer, has been relegated to the Jan 24-28 series-opener against Sri Lanka, who will tour the country for the first time in six years.

Canberra’s Manuka Oval will then host its first Test match from Feb 1 when the home side meets Sri Lanka in their second and final fixture.

India’s tour will kick off with a three-match Twenty20 International series in November after Australia start the home summer with four limited overs matches against South Africa.

The hosts will also play India in three ODIs in January.

The schedule, which will see Test cricket played in February for the first time in over 20 years, has been structured to avoid clashing with the domestic ‘Big Bash’ T20 competition, which has proved a bigger drawcard for local fans than some Test matches in recent seasons.

“This will be a win for fans, with reduced overlap with the Big Bash,” Sutherland said.

Australian cricket has been in turmoil since a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last month led to 12-month bans for Test captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner.

The sanctions mean Australia’s two leading batsmen will be unavailable for selection for the home summer.

International dates:

South Africa:

Oct 31: vs PM XI (Canberra).

Nov 4: First ODI (Perth Stadium).

Nov 9: Second ODI (Adelaide).

Nov 11: Third ODI (Hobart).

Nov 17: One-off T20 International (Gold Coast).

India:

Nov 21: First T20 International (Brisbane).

Nov 23: Second T20 International (Melbourne).

Nov 25: Third T20 International (Sydney).

Dec 6-10: First Test (Adelaide, D/N).

Dec 14-18: Second Test (Perth Stadium).

Dec 26-30: Third Test (Melbourne).

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test (Sydney).

Jan 12: First ODI (Sydney).

Jan 15: Second ODI (Adelaide).

Jan 18: Third ODI (Melbourne).

Sri Lanka:

Jan 24-28: First Test (Brisbane, D/N).

Feb 1-5: Second Test (Canberra).

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2018