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All systems go for day-night Test
July 11, 2025
TWO JAMAICANS, Brandon King and John Campbell, will be part of history tomorrow when Sabina Park plays host to the Caribbean's first day-night Test.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, says "it's all systems go" for the game against Australia, where Campbell wants to make an impression for his grandfather.
According to the minister, "all infrastructure is in place".
Minister Grange said: "The [Jamaica Cricket Association] president has advised that Cricket West Indies indicated that the lighting expert has verified that the newly installed lights have met the required standard. [They've] been calibrated and refocused and everything is now in place."
Grange also said that the new display boards will also be ready for the match.
"The large panel is up and everything is in place. The smaller panel, within the next 24 hours, will be ready, as the software is now being installed."
Minister Grange is encouraging Jamaicans to rally 'round the West Indies and be part of history.
"I would say it's all systems go. And I want to encourage the public to come out and support cricket, lovely cricket."
Campbell, who understands the significance of the occasion, has a more personal reason for wanting to be involved.
Campbell scored just 70 runs across the four innings in his return to the West Indies Test team, highlighted by 40 in the first innings of the second Test in Grenada.
The opener wants to change those statistics in this historic Test for his grandfather, Clive Campbell, who was his first cricket coach.
"I mean, it means a lot. Unfortunately, he won't be able to make it. He's 96 years old now and he's not that mobile, but I'm sure he'll be watching and listening in," said Campbell.
"As I mentioned, he's the one who really introduced me to cricket, and he's the one who taught me basically almost everything I know about cricket. So I'm really happy, happy for him. I'm just hoping to go out there and put on a good performance and make him proud."
King, who spoke with The Gleaner on Wednesday, said he was expecting something special, given the occasion.
"It's a great feeling to play at home. I've played a few white-ball games here before, and it felt incredible. This being the first day-night Test in Sabina, it's going to be special. I'm really looking forward to it."
