When is tea, how are ticket sales? Edgbaston day-night Test FAQs
What you need to know about the first Test in England's home series against West Indies
It will be the first day-night Test match in England. Day-night Tests begin in the afternoon, and more than half the day's play is after work hours, so the hope is that they will bring in more spectators to stadiums and more television viewership.
The Test is at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. It begins August 17.
On each of the five days, play will begin at 14:00 local time. There will be a lunch break at 16:00. The second session is from 16:40 to 18:40, following which there will be a tea break. The floodlights will be turned on during the tea break, so the final session, from 19:00 to 21:00, will be played under lights.
Day-night Tests are played with a pink ball, since the traditional red ball is difficult to see under lights. The pink ball allows the cricketers to maintain the tradition of wearing whites through the Test while ensuring they can see the ball clearly. This will be the first day-night Test using a Duke ball - the Kookaburra was used for the previous four.
The early signs look promising. Nearly 70,000 tickets have already been sold for the first three days of the Test, with days two and three sold out, while an estimated 40% being sold to people who have not previously been to a Test match. For the first day of the Test, the Stanley Barnes stand, which offers the most affordable tickets, is already sold out. For Saturday, the large Raglan stand and the Eric Hollies stand, also known as the party stand, where drinks are available, are both sold out. The novelty of a day-night Test helps pulling in crowds.
The two day-night Tests played in Adelaide have broken attendance and television viewership records.
Warwickshire, the host county, were quick to see the opportunity with Headingley, where the second Test is played, not ready for a day-night Test and Lord's too late in the season. Also, West Indies have a poor recent record in Tests, and hence a regular day Test between England and West Indies was considered a hard sell.
Adelaide is scheduled to host a day-night Test between Australia and England this December - it will be the first day-night Test in an Ashes series. Dubai will host its second day-night Test when Pakistan play Sri Lanka there in October. There have also been discussions about New Zealand hosting a day-night Test when England tour there earlier next year, but there has been no confirmation.