Updated pink ball to be trialled in Shield

Cricket Australia have unveiled an updated pink Kookaburra ball, featuring a completely black seam, and announced it will be used in the day-night round of Sheffield Shield matches next week.

The latest incarnation of the pink ball will be trialled in matches in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth as CA continues to lead the way on day-night first-class and Test cricket.

Following the success of the first-ever day-night Test in Adelaide in November, CA is hoping to schedule a second pink ball Test next summer, with The Gabba "an obvious venue" according to CA's Head of Cricket Operations Sean Cary.

Watch: Highlights from the day-night Test in Adelaide

South Africa and Pakistan will tour Australia next season and the Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania in Brisbane from Sunday looms as an important trial run for the Gabba.

"For us, Brisbane is really important because they've upgraded their lights, so we just want to see how the pink ball fares under the new lights," Cary told Fairfax.

"It's an obvious venue to play a day-night Test match because if we play it in November it offers the best climate across the country.

"Depending on whether we play one or two next summer ... that will (determine) whether we can give the Gabba the green light (after) this match."

The updated pink ball, sporting a completely black seam instead of a green and white one, was developed following feedback from players at both Test and state level.

Watch: Josh Hazlewood takes 5 wickets with pink ball in Adelaide

"Feedback from the players following the first day-night shield round, as well as the historic day-night Test in Adelaide, is that while the ball had improved significantly, the seam was difficult to see at times," Cary said.

"To address these concerns, we’ve worked with Kookaburra to introduce a fully black seam to make it easier to see.

"It is an important change and we will continue to get the players’ feedback during the course of these matches.

"Given the success of the first day-night Test, we want to give our players more opportunities to play with the pink ball particularly as we begin to look ahead to the 2016-17 season."

Pakistan would likely be Australia's opponent should Adelaide, as expected, be given another day-night Test in 2016-17, with the Proteas looming as the opposition if the Gabba gets the nod.

Cricket South Africa boss Haroon Lorgat says his board has an "open mind" about day-night Test cricket, but is yet to commit to the concept.

"At the moment, we certainly cannot commit to playing in the pink ball Test," Lorgat told News Corp.

"It is certainly not over the line that we would agree to play in the (pink ball) Test.

"We have an open mind about the pink ball.

"But there are plenty of things we need to explore and work though, including seeing if our own players will agree to play in it.

"It is way too early to commit to anything."

The day-night Shield round will be crucial in the run home this season with less than five points separating second-placed South Australia and fifth-placed Western Australia. Victoria are well clear of the chasing pack in top spot.

The full Sheffield Shield ladder, and the remaining fixtures, can be found here.