Trent Bridge is set to host its first ever four-day cricket match to take place during the day and at night as Nottinghamshire host Kent in the County Championship.
Nine four-day matches up and down the country are taking place with the pink ball and the world’s third oldest Test match venue in Nottinghamshire is hosting one of them.
The players do not know what will happen with the ball until they get onto the field.
Captain and wicket keeper Chris Read said: “What’s going to happen in this match – I have no idea.
“In red ball cricket, there is a marked difference between the two balls so it will be interesting to see if there is more or less difference between the two when it comes to the pink ball.
“I don’t think the lights, and playing under them, are going to be a massive factor because we have just had the summer solstice and it should still be light.
“How both sets of players react to the pink ball is going to be key to the match and we will have to get to grips with it pretty quickly.”
Head coach Peter Moores thinks the ball is more like the ones used in shorter versions of the game.
He said: “The pink ball appears to be a little bit more like the white ball than the red one in terms of how it wears.
“With the red ball you can work on the shine and get it swinging around but I’m not sure the pink ball will work that way – it may be more like in Australia where it can stop swinging after 10 overs.
“That could change a little bit under the lights but that wouldn’t last for long anyway being around our longest day.”
Nottinghamshire team to face Kent
- Steven Mullaney
- Jake Libby
- Brendan Taylor
- Samit Patel
- Alex Hales
- Riki Wessels
- Chris Read
- James Pattinson
- Luke Fletcher
- Jake Ball
- Harry Gurney
Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the match with injury but is hoping to be available for the One-Day Cup final at Lord’s on Saturday (July 1).
The game will also mark Australian fast bowler’s James Pattinson’s last game in four day cricket for Notts this season.
He has taken 28 wickets in four matches and has scored 193 runs ahead of the clash with Kent.
He said: “I’ve had a fantastic time in Notts – obviously it was a disappointing time last year but we’ve had a good few wins this year and taken maximum points in the last game so hopefully we can bounce straight back to Division One.
“We’ve done that while still being able to book our place in a one-day final as well, which in itself is exciting and a terrific achievement.
“I’ve learned a lot bowling here – it’s somewhere I hadn’t really bowled before so to have a good stint and pick up quite a few wickets will obviously help me when I do come back to bowl in England again.
“I always set high standards for myself and want to get as many wickets as I can – I didn’t have a target but I wanted to repay Nottinghamshire and the supporters.”
Assistant head coach Paul Franks said last week he would welcome back Pattinson in the future having not ruled him out returning this season depending on his international schedule.
