Counties are seeing the light...

FLOODLIT matches will be worked into the County Championship annually if next summer’s venture proves popular.

The 2017 season will feature up to nine such games – pencilled in for the last week in June and first week in July – to give England players practice for their maiden day-night Test versus West Indies.

Alastair Cook’s team are being given the chance to familiarise themselves with the pink Dukes ball ahead of the Investec Series opener at Edgbaston, starting on August 17.

The ECB have received a positive response from the counties, who believe the novelty could result in a spike in attendances.

“Whether you’re a club cricketer or a member who works 9-5 you’ll be able to come along and watch two or three hours of Championship cricket after work and it will be very interesting to see what the uptake is on this initiative,” said Yorkshire chief executive Mark Arthur (below).

The intention is to include all 18 county clubs.

Only Worcestershire and Somerset do not have permanent floodlights at their county bases, although both have plans to install them, while Gloucestershire will be unable to host one of the initial matches due to planning restrictions.

The changes to the 126-year-old competition reflect a global appetite for more day-night cricket.

Australia hosted world cricket’s first floodlit Test 11 months ago, steamrollering New Zealand inside three days in Adelaide – and have two more scheduled this winter.

Pakistan beat West Indies under the lights in Dubai last week.