Edgbaston to host England's first day-night Test in 2017

Johannesburg [South Africa], Oct.7 (ANI): Birmingham is set to create history by hosting the first-ever day and night Test between England and West Indies at Edgbaston in August next year, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed. The announcement means that England would become the third nation to stage a five-day match under lights after Australia and Pakistan. Australia scripted history by hosting the first-ever pink ball match against New Zealand in Adelaide last year while Pakistan are due to play the West Indies in a day-night Test in the UAE next week. Subject to clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the opening Test of the three-match series between England and the Caribbean side, to be held from August 17 next year, will be played as a twilight match. Excited by the prospect of staging their first ever day-night Test match, ECB chief executive Tom Harrison believes it would serve as a great opportunity to attract more spectators towards the game. "We think it can help attract different fans and families to Test cricket and the innovation will certainly put the five-day game under the spotlight in a very busy summer for the game," Harrison was quoted as saying by Sport24. "A number of Test nations are looking at day/night Tests as a way of building further interest in our most traditional format. We're glad to be supporting that and adding to the understanding of how this might develop in different countries," he added. Earlier, Warwickshire held a trial in the 2nd XI game against Worcestershire at Edgbaston in August, which was deemed a success despite some issues with the deterioration of the pink ball. Meanwhile, West Indies' third three-day tour match, which takes place in Derby the week before the first Test, will be played as a day-night match as part of their preparation.(ANI)