A new era: Test cricket in the pink

Australia to play New Zealand in first-ever day-night Test in Adelaide with pink ball

ADELAIDE: Rival captains Steve Smith and Brendon McCullum said on Thursday they were excited about what the first-ever day-night Test could mean for the future of cricket.

Big crowds will be thronging Adelaide Oval for Friday’s pink-ball third Test between Australia and New Zealand, with the cricket world watching the first day-night match in 138 years of Tests with keen interest.

Just like the advent of ODIs in the 1970s and the glitzy T20Is in the last decade, Test cricket stands on the threshold of a game-changer, and both skippers are keen to buy into the concept.

Kiwis aim to leave with heads held high

“People are voting with their feet and they are encouraged by what the pink ball Test has to offer and for us to play in front of 40,000 people in a Test match is pretty amazing,” New Zealand skipper McCullum told reporters. “So we’re really excited about it and hopefully it goes off brilliantly, with no challenges and no problems.”

Smith, whose Australia team lead the three-Test series 1-0, was also upbeat about creating something new and exciting for the traditional form of the international game.

“We are creating history playing in the first day-night Test, so I’m sure a lot of people are going to be watching around the world and that’s really exciting for world cricket,” he said. “I think it’s a really exciting concept. I can’t wait to go out and give it a crack.”

Starc in the pink for historic day-night Test

The Australian skipper also expressed his excitement at the large turnout expected. “I think the crowds have rolled in. Obviously, the first two Tests were a bit disappointing in terms of crowds,” he said. “There’s some big numbers expected for at least the first three days here. So I think it’s really exciting for us moving forward.”

Ticket sales have been brisk, with a first-day crowd of up to 40,000 expected — compared with 16,000 the last time the two sides met in Adelaide in 2008.

McCullum played down the mystery of batting against the specially-designed pink ball under lights, with expectations of it swinging more in the evening conditions.

Test makeover faces its pink revolution

Sunset is not until 8pm local time so both teams will only be under the glare of the floodlights for up to 90 minutes each day.

“There are a few unknowns, but the guys who batted against the new ball the other night said it was challenging but it was not unplayable,” said McCullum. “I think there is a lot being made that it is almost unplayable under lights, but I think it is just a bit more challenging during those times. It doesn’t mean you can’t get runs, doesn’t mean you can’t survive.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th,  2015.

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