Two Year Wait For Black Caps' Pink Ball Test

The Black Caps may have to wait more than two years before their next test match using the pink ball.

A proposed day-night Plunket Shield round next month has been pushed back to next season, meaning the goal of a test match under lights is expected to move back another year as well.

NZC head of cricket Lindsay Crocker said they couldn't get Westpac Stadium or a second match in Hamilton to work logistically.

The workload at both of those grounds meant they couldn't fit it in this year and they will delay it until next year.

NZC considered going ahead with two matches under lights but decided it wouldn't be fair on all players. Stadium managers, administrators and players decided it would be best to make it equal for everybody.

Crocker said the 2017/18 summer with the West Indies and England touring is now more probable than next year's tour by South Africa.

"I think a likely outcome is that next year would probably be a season too early, and it might be the year after that we start looking at that."

Napier's McLean Park has been deemed unsuitable for pink ball cricket, with a suitable alternative not able to be worked out logistically.

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