The experimental pink ball withstood the first two sessions and didn’t really produce any exceptional difference to the regulation red balls.
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Australia fans at the Adelaide Oval with Phil Hughes banners during the Australia-New Zealand day-night Test match on Friday.
Meanwhile, coach for the New Zealand team Mike Hesson said, “At night with the new ball it swings and probably more so than it does during the day”. “I think that is a result wicket out there, without a doubt”.
“I think we’ve seen a team which is operating a little closer to where we expect ourselves to operate on a daily basis”, he said.
The second day’s play of that match was abandoned after Hughes’s death, with NZ players visibly distressed when the Test resumed.
Provided the swing specialist pulls up well he’s likely to play the historic clash under lights with the pink ball.
“I don’t think broadcasters really want Test cricket played to empty stadia”.
“You’re playing a game that’s supposed to be fun and you’re supposed to be in a great contest, and then in the blink of a ball it completely changes on you”, he said.
With players wearing their traditional whites, unlike the coloured clothing in one-day cricket, the pink ball is considered the best colour for visibility in daylight, dusk and under floodlights against different backdrops.
“And we can remember Phil Hughes for what he was – which was a great bloke and an even better player”. But Australia dominated the evening session, taking five wickets – including three for four runs within 11 balls, all caught behind by Peter Nevill – to remove Tom Latham (50), Ross Taylor (21), McCullum (4), Mitch Santer, who scored 31 from 46 balls in his first test innings, and Mark Craig (11).
The current series between powerhouse India and South Africa has been poorly attended and the scant crowds at the opening matches between the hosts and New Zealand in Brisbane and Perth raised alarm bells in Australia, where Test cricket remains relatively popular.
“Over rates will be interesting as well heading into this test match”.
This time previous year Australian cricketer Phil Hughes tragically passed when he was struck by a ball at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Australian rapper Urthboy has suitably marked the sombre occasion with a touching tribute. Tony Irish, head of the players’ union Fica, has stressed the need to consider this initial day-night Test as an experiment and not to commit to the format too quickly.
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“Obviously, it was a pretty hard time for us all coming here previous year just after the disgusting incident”, Smith said.
