Fears over the way the pink ball would behave, on its debut at this level, were not completely disproved but the contest between bat and ball never appeared compromised despite 12 wickets falling in total.
Advertisement
A successful debut for day-night test cricket in Adelaide this week could be “outstanding” for the game and the spark needed to reinvigorate the longest format, according to New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.
Australia, who lead the series 1-0, have already retained the Trans-Tasman trophy following the draw in Perth, but both teams will be eager to etch their names in the record books as the first to win a test played under floodlights.
“But I think for cricket in general, it would have been supported well here and it would have been on TV and all over the world”. Play will start at 2 pm local time (8:30 am PST), instead of late morning, and tea will be held after the first session instead of the second, with dinner scheduled between the second and third sessions.
Ticket sales are pointing to a first-day crowd of up to 40,000 compared with 16,000 the last time the two sides met in Adelaide in 2008.
Ground staff have had their work cut out after a rock concert by AC/DC at the Oval on Saturday, putting a drop-in pitch in place and replacing some 800 square metres (8,600 square feet) of outfield.
“If we have that final session on the fifth day under lights, and a test match result is in the balance, then I think that it could be anything for test cricket”.
New Zealand were playing a Test against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates when the Hughes tragedy unfolded.
The key challenge for the ball, to last 80 overs while retaining enough of its colour to be clearly visible to players, umpires, the 47,441 watching at the venue and the million-plus on TV, was not fulfilled.
New Zealand bowler Trent Boult, removed Warner for one early in Australia’s reply, said the players struggled to see the pink ball when the sun was setting. “It doesn’t mean you can’t get runs, doesn’t mean you can’t survive”.
The behaviour of the Australian cricket team has again come in for criticism on social media after the latest outburst. The schedule for Australia’s 2014-15 home series against India was redrafted in the wake of Hughes’ death, with the emotional opening Test was played at the Adelaide Oval.
Following disappointing crowd turnouts in the two preceding Tests, both captains were also quick to praise the “Ashes-like” ticket sales that the introduction of the pink ball has brought.
Advertisement
Skipper Steve Smith (24) and Adam Voges (9) were unbeaten at the close, resisting after openers David Warner (1) and Joe Burns (14) failed for a rare time in the series.
