Edgbaston in the frame for first day-night Test Match

EDGBASTON could be the venue for English cricket’s first ever day-night Test Match.

Reports have suggested the Birmingham ground is in the frame to stage the event, which could take place next August when England host the West Indies.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is thought to be keen to follow the example set in Australia last year when Adelaide staged the inaugural day-night game between the hosts and New Zealand. The game attracted more than 125,000 spectators over its three-day duration.

Edgbaston, ever keen to be in the vanguard of cricket innovation, is staging a trial evening game between the second XIs of Warwickshire and Worcestershire later this month.

The game, which will feature a pink ball, will be staged under lights and will take place between August 22-24.

The decision to stage the game has been taken in conjunction with the ECB and the outcome will be scrutinised by the official body. If satisfied by the outcome, the ECB could clear the way for the ground to host the day-night test next year.

ECB chairman Colin Graves, quoted in the London Evening Standard, said all options were still being explored with August the likely month for the event as the nights being to draw in.

The body is keen to attract more spectators to the five-day game, especially outside London and the day-night option could be the best way to attract spectators who could attend games after work.

While the final decision on whether to stage the game rests with the ECB, Warwickshire chief executive Neil Snowball is confident Edgbaston can once again by a trailblazer.

Quoted in the same report, he said if the game later this month went well then further options would be explored.

He said he believed cricket audiences would respond well to the initiative and Edgbaston was an ideal venue for such an experiment with its big catchment area and location close to the city centre.