Day-night Tests: Major records
The Day/Night Test match was first played between Australia and Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in the year 2015, and since then 18 Tests have been played under the lights. The new version of the longest and oldest format of the game had become an instant hit since its inception and there have been some great individual and team performances in these Day/Night affairs.
Let’s take a look at the major records in Day/Night Test matches played so far:
1. David Warner (335*)
Australian southpaw David Warner holds the record for the highest individual score of an unbeaten 335 in Day/Night Test matches. The left-handed batter smashed the mammoth score against Pakistan in the Adelaide Test in the year 2019. Australia batted first and posted 589/3d courtesy of a stellar innings from Warner which included 39 fours and one six in 418 deliveries. Pakistan’s Azhar Ali is in the second spot for scoring 302* against West Indies in Dubai in 2016.
2. Not a single drawn match in Day/Night affairs
The introduction of the Day/Night Test matches happened in November 2015 when Australia locked horns with New Zealand in Adelaide. Since then, all the 18 day/night Tests have had results and not a single game has ended in a draw. In 18 games, teams batting first tasted success on 10 occasions and sides fielding first won eight times.
3. Australia’s 10 out of 10
Australia has a formidable record in the Day/Night Test clashes as they have contested in ten such Tests and won all of them with a terrific 100% record. They have defeated rivals England thrice, New Zealand and Pakistan twice and India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka once. Notably, all of the ten games have been played in Australia only. The Kangaroos have won six encounters in Adelaide, two in Brisbane and one each in Perth and Hobart.
4. Mitchell Starc (56 wickets)
Australia’s spearhead Mitchell Starc is, by some distance, ahead from other bowlers in terms of wickets. Starc has taken 56 scalps in Day/Night Tests at an impressive average of 18.41. His strike rate of 36.1 with the best bowling figures of 6/66. Thrice the Aussie pacer has also taken five-wicket hauls. His teammate Nathan Lyon occupies the second spot, having picked 34 wickets.
5. Devendra Bishoo (8/49)
West Indies spinner Devendra Bishoo has achieved the best figures in Day/Night Test matches when he snared eight scalps for 49 runs against Pakistan in Dubai in 2016. He bowled 13.5 overs with one maiden and an economy rate of 3.54 to bundle out Pakistan for just 123 runs in the second innings, although Pakistan won the clash by 56 runs.
