‘A little bit uneasy’: Questions over Aussies’ first overseas day-night Test days out from first ball

It’s not yet certain whether Australia’s first ever day-night Test away from home will be held under lights as planned.

The Aussies have already clinched the Frank Worrell Trophy but the third Test of their series in the West Indies has been long-planned as a pink ball match.

But the final sign-offs have not been made on the new floodlights at Kingston’s Sabina Park ahead of the on July 12 (early morning July 13 AEST) contest.

West Indies vs Australia Test & T20I Series | Watch every ball LIVE with ESPN, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

A recent test event found one area of the playing area wasn’t sufficiently lit and while local officials are confident the ground will be ready, the ICC still needs to tick it off.

“I’m pretty sure about that (being ready),” Jamaica Cricket Association president Dr Donovan Bennett told the Jamaica Observer last week.

“I’m a little bit uneasy because I would have hoped that everything would have been completed by now but when you’re doing construction, as you go along there are a lot of unforeseen circumstances that you’re challenged with which will push you back and that’s exactly what has happened with the lights and the scoreboard.

“But we’re on target, I’m confident that we’ll be okay with both the lighting and the scoreboard for the 12th, when the games are scheduled, I’m sure we’ll be okay.

“Certain areas of the field are way above the international requirements but there’s one area that we need to work on to get it up ... the English, who supplied the lights, they will be coming in on the seventh (Monday) with a laser beam to do the final fine-tuning.”

14-y.o Indian gun smacks 52-ball ton! | 04:57

The venue is also scheduled to host the first two matches of the nations’ five-match T20I series, with the other three played in St Kitts.

The third Test is scheduled to be the first time Australia has played a pink ball Test overseas, having won 12 of 13 played across Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart.

The only loss was at the Gabba in late January 2024, when Shamar Joseph took 7-68 in the fourth innings to clinch an eight-run win, the West Indies’ first Test victory in Australia since 2003.

Click here to read article