As Australia prepares for another day-night test match in Adelaide, there is a lot to look forward to as this side is confident of avenging the heavy defeat at India’s hands in the first test. However, Australia’s brilliant record in pink-ball tests stands at its own pedestal. Notching up all seven of the day-night tests at the Adelaide Oval and 11 of 12 overall at their home, they have their best track record. Following are the factors that feature why Australia is dominating day-night tests.
Win The Toss And Batting First In Pink Ball Test
The secret to Australian success in day-night tests seems to be winning the toss and batting first. Indeed, they have won all seven of their matches when deciding to bat first, posting monstrous totals-often well over 400 runs. An earlier success by West Indies batted first and scored 311 and then went on to win the match by eight runs is an excellent example of how batting first gives a head start.
Of the 12 day-night tests played at home, ten have seen the team winning the toss opt to bat. England were exceptions in Adelaide (2017) and Hobart (2022), both of which they lost after failing to build on their early advantage. In like manner, New Zealand in 2015 and Sri Lanka in 2019 could not make a mark after opting to bat, managing scores of just 202 and 144, respectively.
Even when South Africa declared at 259/9 in Adelaide in 2016 to bowl under lights, Australia’s unbroken partnership at stumps showed how important it is to have a solid first innings score. India’s 2020 loss, despite having a first-innings lead of 53 runs, remains one of the rare exceptions to this pattern.
The New Ball Effect
The new pink ball used in day-night tests significantly upgrades the performance of seam bowlers compared to its red version. Fast bowlers have particularly flourished under this condition, especially the Australian fast bowlers. Since 2015-16, the average for fast bowlers in the first 20 overs of a red-ball test has been 33.02. However, in pink ball tests, it drops down to 24.56.
Australia’s fast bowling has been very effective with the pink ball, averaging just 18.87 in the first 20 overs, compared to 25.01 with the red ball. Even the visiting quicks, on average, have done a better job with the pink ball (33.94) than with the red (45.91). That gap makes batting in the early sessions of a pink ball test much tougher than in day games.
Batting Issues In The Final Session
The last session of a day-night test, which is generally played under lights, is the most challenging for batsmen. Fast bowlers reign supreme in this phase with an average of 20.30, as opposed to 23.03 in the first session and 32.01 in the second. The Australian bowlers are even more lethal, with an average of 14.66 under lights in all 12 day-night tests. Visiting bowlers have an average of 32.08 under lights.
Interestingly, the Adelaide Oval presents a different picture, where the fast bowlers do well in the first session (23.02) than in the third (25.66). Australia’s pacers are as deadly in the afternoon, with an average of 17.42 and 18.26 respectively.
Nathan Lyon’s Performance
While Australia’s fast bowling cartel has shone in day-night test matches, Nathan Lyon has also played a crucial role in his side’s dominance. As a spinner, Lyon outshines visiting spinners in such conditions. Since the 2015-16 season, Lyon has averaged 25.58 in pink ball tests and 31.80 in red ball tests at home. His ability to take wickets at the right time and at a faster rate than with the red ball, has made him a valuable player in Australia’s current dominance.
The visiting spinners, however, have fared poorly in Australia. Since 2015-16, they have averaged 62.31 in red ball test matches and 64.44 in pink ball test matches, while Nathan Lyon has been a contrast to all of them every time.
Leading Run Getter In Pink Ball Tests
Marnus Labuschagne has been outstanding in pink ball tests. With 894 runs at an average of 63.85 and four centuries, Labuschagne is the highest run-getter in pink ball test matches for Australia. Travis Head with two hundreds is the next best.
Leading Wicket Taker In Pink Ball Tests
Mitchell Starc has been Australia’s leading wicket-taker in pink-ball Tests. With 66 wickets at an average of 18.71, he is the only player in Australia to have taken 50-plus wickets in this format. Along with Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have also kept excellent records, with averages under 20.
Australia In Pink Ball Tests
Australia’s near-perfect record in day-night tests at home comes from a couple of factors. All these have been part of the bat-first strategy, the effectiveness of seamers with the new pink ball and the dominance of Australian bowlers under lights. Nathan Lyon’s success as a spinner in these conditions adds to Australia’s formidable reputation. With Labuschagne, Starc and Lyon leading the charge, Australia remains a force to be reckoned with in day-night test matches and continues to make it hard for opponents to beat them on home soil.
Will Australia keep dominating in the pink ball test or will India have the upper hand this time in Adelaide?
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
