saw enough promise in the opening days to float the prospect of two Tests under lights next season, against touring sides Pakistan and South Africa.
“It would seem that Adelaide is a fantastic place for it, and there are other venues around the country,” he told local radio on Monday.
Under Sutherland, CA has long championed day-night cricket and engaged local manufacturer Kookaburra nearly a decade ago to produce a ball that could both be seen under lights and last the full 80 overs required in a Test match.
Despite years of painstaking testing, players complained in the leadup that the ball was hard to see during the warmup matches under lights and also wore too quickly.
To that end, a grassy pitch was specially prepared at Adelaide Oval to cushion the ball from the usual wear and tear, an unusual development in Australia where curators prepare their pitches without fear or favour from authorities.
The outfield was also noticeably more lush, which slowed up shots that would normally have clattered into the fence.
After 11 centuries were scored in the opening two Tests, the balance of power swung sharply to the bowlers in Adelaide.
Australia wicketkeeper Peter Nevill’s 66 was the highest individual score and the highest innings total was a modest 228.
In Perth, New Zealand’s Ross Taylor hit 290 while the highest innings score was over 550.
CA had to refund fans who bought tickets to day four of the Test after it wrapped up in three.
Like ICC boss Richardson, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum declared the match a success and day-night Tests “here to stay”, but also bemoaned the imbalance between bat and ball.
It was most pronounced at night when the pink ball swung its hardest and was tougher for batsmen to see under the lights.
McCullum’s coach Mike Hesson said he felt more work was needed on the pink ball before further day-night Tests could be scheduled. “I think there does need to be a little bit of tweaking but the actual concept is excellent,” he told reporters in Adelaide on Monday.
“You do struggle to see the seam at night, so I think there just needs to be a little bit of work around that.”