New Delhi: The intriguing Border-Gavaskar Trophy will move to Adelaide for the second Test match, which will start on Friday, December 6, at the Adelaide Oval. Both India and Australia squads have reached the South Australian city for one of the most challenging Test matches this time – the day-night Test match which will be played with a pink ball.
Australia has played the most (12) pink-ball matches among all the Test playing nations and hold a commanding record of winning 11 of those Tests, having lost just one day-night Test against the West Indies in Brisbane earlier this year.
India, on the other hand, have played four pink-ball Test matches and lost only one. The last time India and Australia played a Test match of this manner was in the 2020-21 edition. It was the first Test of that tour and India’s second innings folded up like a pack of cards, the ignominy of recording the lowest Test total of 36 for 9 still remains as a painful memory for some of the Indian cricket supporters.
India, who won the opening Test by a formidable margin of 295 runs in Perth, will face the stiff challenge to bounce back from the horrors of the previous tour. Australian batter Steve Smith called the Adelaide wicket as unpredictable, particularly under the flood lights.
“Yeah, pink ball. So it can be challenging at different times of the day or night, depending on where you bat and the situation of the game and ball, and all those kinds of things. So just being really switched on. The pink ball can be a little bit unpredictable at times. So yeah, just being really focused,” Smith said on Star Sports.
Australia’s indomitable record at Adelaide in pink-ball Tests
The Australian team has played seven day-night Test matches at the Adelaide Oval and it remains undefeated at the venue. Their only defeat at home in pink-ball Test match has come against the West Indies at The Gabba. Australia have defeated New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, India, and West Indies once in Adelaide while arch-rivals England were defeated twice here.
Australia has played the most (12) pink-ball matches among all the Test playing nations and hold a commanding record of winning 11 of those Tests. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
