The Sheffield Shield will re-introduce day-night matches this season to prepare players for future pink-ball Tests.
Australia has hosted at least one day-night Test each summer since pioneering the concept at Adelaide Oval when New Zealand toured in late 2015.
But the domestic competition had not featured matches under lights since the 2017-18 season, until Cricket Australia announced three upcoming matches on Friday.
Each state will have the chance to play in the conditions, though one of the three matches will take place after the day-night Test against India begins on December 6 at Adelaide Oval – the traditional venue for the fixture.
Test players are unlikely to feature in any of the matches, given India’s tour will already have begun when the first two matches are played, and the third takes place at the tail end of the Shield season.
News of the fixtures comes as Australia prepares to make changes to its Test side for the upcoming summer.
Cameron Green’s back injury opens up the potential for an allrounder, possibly Aaron Hardie or Beau Webster, to be handed a maiden baggy green in the India series.
Alternatively, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris or Cameron Bancroft could be promoted to the top of the order if selectors push Steve Smith down to No.4 in Green’s place.
“We are always exploring opportunities to further enhance the experience for domestic players and best-prepare them for the challenges of international cricket,” said CA’s executive general manager of national teams Ben Oliver.
“Playing first-class matches at Test venues is important, and so too is exposure to day-night conditions which have become a feature of the Australian Test summer over the past decade.”
The return of day-night Shield matches comes after West Indies paceman Shamar Joseph inspired a shock defeat of Australia under lights at the Gabba last summer.
The eight-run loss was Australia’s first in 12 pink-ball Tests.
DAY-NIGHT SHEFFIELD SHIELD MATCHES IN THE 2024-25 SEASON:
South Australia v Western Australia – Adelaide Oval, November 23-26
Queensland v Victoria – The Gabba, November 24-27
Tasmania v NSW, Bellerive Oval, March 15-18
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