First Ashes Test may be played under floodlights

Both England and Australia are understood to be keen to stage next year's Brisbane match at night.

The Gabba (Getty Images)

The opening Test of the next Ashes series may be played under floodlights. Exploratory talks between England and Australia indicate that there is a will in both countries to stage next year’s match in Brisbane at night.

Attendances at the Gabba are never quite at capacity even for the only series that still regularly draws full houses but that is not the main thinking behind the proposal. Change is deemed necessary if the longest form of the game is to survive, and England and Australia are anxious to be seen to be doing what they might expect of others.

There is no intention yet of staging floodlit Tests in England, where the summer nights are so long and attendances are still holding up. But moves towards four-day Tests with 98 overs being bowled on each day are still being considered in various countries, including England.

That would be a reduction of 58 overs in a match, but it would still be more than enough to yield a positive result. It would also encourage players to ensure that Tests do not end in a draw.

Both proposals at least demonstrate that the game’s administrators are not giving up on Test cricket without a fight. The question will be, how much they dare dilute it.