The Pink Ball Affair: Countries that have witnessed the magic of day-night Tests
Originating in England, cricket largely remained a day affair. Despite bad light often intruding the play, it took an age for day-night cricket to come into existence. It was the Australian genius Kerry Packer who first introduced cricket under lights in his revolutionary World Series played in 1977. Since then, ODIs under lights gained popularity and went on to become a norm. And yet, Test cricket remained away from all this.
In October 2012, the International Cricket Council (ICC) recast the playing conditions for Test matches, permitting day-night Test matches. The first-ever day-night game took place between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide on 27 November 2015. Since then 10 such encounters have been staged. With the Test match against Bangladesh on 22nd November at Eden Gardens, India is set to become the seventh nation to hold such a contest. Here are all six nations that have hosted a day-night Test thus far.
Australia
The first-ever day-night Test match! Adelaide Oval earned the distinction of being the first venue to host such a contest. New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first. Tom Latham became the first batsman to celebrate a fifty as the visitors folded up for 202. Steve Smith’s 53 and Peter Neville’s 66 helped Australia get a slender lead of 22 runs. Josh Hazlewood’s six-for with the pink ball meant the hosts had to chase 187 runs. They got there with three wickets remaining.
UAE
Azhar Ali scored 302 not out against West Indies in UAE.
Pakistan hosted West Indies for a full-fledged international tour in UAE in October 2016. First of the three Test matches was a day-night affair. This was also Pakistan’s 400th Test match. Batting first at Dubai, Azhar Ali became the first centurion, first double-centurion and the first triple-centurion in day-night Tests. Riding on Ali’s 302 not out, Pakistan piled up 579/3 decl. in their first innings. West Indies conceded a 222-run deficit but hit back by skittling the assumed hosts to 123 all out with Devendra Bishoo’s 8/49. Darren Bravo scored a fighting century in the 346-run chase but the team lost by 56 runs.
England
Alastair Cook scored 243 against West Indies in the D-N Test.
West Indies became part of another maiden day-night Test in a nation when they faced England at Birmingham in August 2017. However, this turned out to be a forgettable experience for the Caribbean men. Alastair Cook’s 243 and a fine hundred from Joe Root propelled England to 514/8 decl. late on the second day. West Indies finished the day on 44/1. On the third day, England bowlers slashed through the West Indian batsmen to wrap up the Test. Taking 19 wickets in a day, England won by an innings and 209 runs.
South Africa
South Africa experimented with a day-night Test against Zimbabwe in December 2017. This was also a four-day match but ICC granted it international status. The boxing day Test lasted for only two days. South Africa declared on 309/9 which included Aiden Markram’s 125. In the remaining 16 overs of the opening day, Zimbabwe crashed to 30/4. Next day, South Africa took 16 wickets to win the match by an innings and 120 runs. Morne Morkel and Keshav Maharaj were the leading wicket-takers.
New Zealand
New Zealand celebrates their Test victory over England.
The Blackcaps hosted England at Eden Park, Auckland in the first-ever day-night Test on New Zealand soil in March 2018. The first session was an explosive one as England found themselves in danger of recording the lowest score in Test cricket. Craig Overton’s 33 rescued them from 23/8 to eventually finish on 58 all out. Hosts took a handsome lead of 369 runs despite rain causing interruptions. They ended up winning the Test by an innings and 49 runs.
West Indies
The third Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka in June 2018 was played under lights. The first day-night Test on the Caribbean soil turned out to be a low-scoring affair. Windies in their first innings recovered from 53/5 to post 204. The fast bowlers then stopped Lankan batsmen for only 154. Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara had the hosts in trouble at 14/5. West Indies ended up scoring only 93 runs thus setting a target of 144. With Sri Lanka at 81/6, it was anyone’s game. Dilruwan Perera and Kusal Perera then added 63 runs for the seventh wicket to complete the chase.
