THE prospect of playing a Sheffield Shield game under lights with a pink Kookaburra in his hand is "exciting" for Tasmanian spinner Xavier Doherty.
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Tasmania will play Victoria at the MCG starting Monday as part of an experimental round of the Shield where all games will start at 2pm or 2.30pm.
The Tigers had their first experience of the pink ball at training on Thursday night at Bellerive Oval, and the limited overs specialist liked what he found.
"They feel more [and grip like] like a one-day, white cricket ball," he said.
"I certainly like bowling more with a one-day ball than a red ball, so it feels better in my hand."
The experiment is part of a plan by Cricket Australia to hopefully stage a day- night Test match in 2015-16.
Tasmania, in fifth spot on 16 points, must win its final two games and hope other results go its way if it is to defend its Shield title, starting with the clash with the last-placed Bushrangers.
"If we win them and we make it great, but if we don't than we've only got ourselves to blame, but it's all about just trying to win those games and play as good as cricket as possible," Doherty said.
All-rounder Luke Butterworth returns from his quad injury for the Tigers, with Beau Webster omitted from the squad that took full points against Queensland.
TASMANIA:Tim Paine (c), Luke Butterworth, Steve Cazzulino, Mark Cosgrove, Ed Cowan, Xavier Doherty, Ben Dunk, Andrew Fekete, Evan Gulbis, Ben Hilfenhaus, Sam Rainbird, Jon Wells.
