“We’re really excited to announce that Adelaide will play host to the first ever day-night Ashes Test”
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The Adelaide Oval is fast becoming a historical venue in world cricket as it held the first-ever day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand in November last year. Now, it will make even more history when it hosts the first day-night Ashes Test in December 2017.
While there will no doubt be concerns about Australia’s advantage in day-night Tests since they will have featured in three by the time the Ashes begin, England, who won the last Ashes series 3-2 in August 2015, will have experienced their first taste of day-night Test cricket too as they will face the West Indies in Britain’s first-ever day-night Test at Edgbaston next summer.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland expressed his delight at the fact that both sides had agreed to have one of the five Ashes Test matches be a day-night affair, and added that he expects the fixture in Adelaide to be “a full house”.
“We’re really excited to announce that Adelaide will play host to the first-ever day-night Ashes Test,” he said. “We know how much Adelaide fans love this style of Test cricket. We’re expecting a full house next year in what is sure to be a great contest.”
The Ashes will begin on November 23, 2017 in Brisbane before the second Test in held in Adelaide. Perth will host the third Test, while Melbourne and Sydney have been assigned the Boxing Day Test and New Year’s Test respectively.
Following the Ashes, Australia and England will play a five-match ODI series that will begin on January 14 in Melbourne. The four other ODIs will be held in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth respectively.
After the ODI series, Australia, England and New Zealand will compete in a Trans-Tasman Twenty20 International tri-series.
The first three matches of the tournament will take place in Australia before the action moves to New Zealand for the next three matches. The final will be held in Auckland on February 21.
“To host matches against both England and Australia is an exciting development for New Zealand cricket fans,” New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive David White said. “There is a lot of history and a healthy rivalry between the three sides, and we expect the series to be well supported.
“The Chappell Hadlee Series will resume in 2018-19 in New Zealand; will take a break in 2019-20 as scheduled, will return the following summer when New Zealand tours Australia, and in 2021-22 when Australia visits New Zealand.”