Pink-ball cricket has arrived.
New Zealand Cricket released part of the 2016-17 domestic schedule yesterday and it features a round of day-night Plunket Shield games in March.
Otago will play Wellington at Westpac Stadium in a first-class game beginning on March 6, while Northern Districts will host Central Districts at Seddon Park and Auckland will host Canterbury at Eden Park.
Westpac Stadium — with those short square boundaries — will be making its first-class debut. The pink ball will also be making its maiden first-class appearance in New Zealand.
The purists will not be happy about the first-class game, which is undoubtedly at its best during the daylight hours, being played outside its normal time slot. However, Otago Cricket Association chief executive Mike Coggan said fans might have to get used to it.
"It was planned to happen last summer but it never quite happened because of the complexities of getting each of the three venues up to the same standard,’’ Coggan said.
"This season all the major associations agreed to trial it.
"We think it is a good sighter into what may happen in the future. But, as the away team, we wanted to make sure we had as many opportunities to prepare under lights as the home team.
"That was one of the things we did ask New Zealand Cricket to consider but we certainly support the concept of a Plunket Shield day-nighter ... and I think the players will be excited about it."
The concept is not about attracting more spectators, but preparing future international cricketers as day-night tests look set to become a regular feature on the international calendar.
First-class cricket starts on October 22. Otago will travel to Nelson to play Central Districts and then on to Auckland for its second-round match against the Aces.
Its first home game is against Central Districts at the University Oval, beginning on November 5.
It is the first of three consecutive home games in the region with Invercargill hosting the Otago-Canterbury fixture slated for November 14-17.
The Volts then return to Dunedin the following week and will play Wellington.
Otago has an opportunity to finish strongly with its final two games at the University Oval.
The one-day competition starts in mid-January.
The Volts open their campaign against Wellington in Dunedin.
All four of their home games are at the University Oval, so Dunedin-based fans will have plenty of opportunity to see the team play.
Details of the men’s domestic twenty20 tournament will be announced on Friday.
However, it is understood Alexandra will host two T20 fixtures between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
The women’s competition will follow the White Ferns home series against Pakistan, beginning on November 25.
The one-day and T20 competitions run concurrently, the two teams playing each other in both formats over a three-day period.
The Otago Sparks start their campaign on November 25 against Central Districts in New Plymouth.
Their round two games against Canterbury are being staged at Molyneux Park, while they will play a series against Northern Districts at the University Oval on January 2-4.
PLUNKET SHIELD
Oct 22-25: Central Districts, Nelson
Oct 29-Nov 1: Auckland, Auckland
Nov 5-8: Central Districts, Dunedin
Nov 14-17: Canterbury, Invercargill
Nov 22-25: Wellington, Dunedin
Feb 25-28: Northern Districts, Whangarei
Mar 6-9: Wellington, Wellington D/N
Mar 14-17: Canterbury, Christchurch
Mar 21-24: Auckland, Dunedin
Mar 29-Apr 1: Northern Districts, Dunedin
FORD TROPHY
Jan 15: Wellington, Dunedin
Jan 18: Auckland, Auckland
Jan 22: Canterbury, Dunedin
Jan 25: Northern Districts, Whangarei
Jan 28: Central Districts, Palmerston North
Feb 1: Auckland, Invercargill
Feb 4: Wellington, Wellington
Feb 8: Northern Districts, Dunedin
WOMEN'S ONE-DAY ANDTWENTY20 TOURNAMENT
Nov 25-27: Central Districts, New Plymouth
Dec 2-4: Canterbury, Alexandra
Dec 27-29: Auckland, Lincoln
Jan 2-4: Northern Districts, Dunedin
