Sheffield Shield to stage matches under lights

In a statement released on Thursday night, CA said that round nine of its domestic tournament - the equivalent of England's County Championship - would have games played under the floodlights.

Using a pink ball, matches in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria will serve as an experiment with a view to a five-day Test match being played at night in the 2015-16 season.

"There is a lot of work to be done and nothing is guaranteed but this summer's trials are our first serious effort to make day-night Test cricket a reality," Cricket Australia's James Sutherland said.

"We've also had some discussions with New Zealand Cricket to gauge their interest in the concept over the past few weeks given they are due to tour Australia in late 2015."

The success of Twenty20 cricket - a format which is more commonly played on an evening and often to sell-out crowds - has brought about the question of whether or not Tests could be switched to later slots, partly to try and maintain interest in the longer form of the game.

And, according to Sutherland, the sport cannot afford to have its prime events played while fans are at work.

"This is all about the fans," he added.

"Cricket can't afford to sit on its hands and must keep working hard to ensure Tests remain the most popular form of the game.

"There isn't a major team sport in the world that schedules the majority of its premium content during the working week. At least three days of a Test are played when adults are at work and kids are at school.

"No doubt there will be some resistance along the way but for the sake of growing the game in the long term, cricket needs to address the hurdles standing in the way of day-night Test cricket in a rational, mature way."