NEW DELHI: Adelaide Oval has been Australia’s fortress in pink-ball Tests, with the hosts boasting an impeccable 7-0 record under the lights prior to the ongoing India-Australia Test.
Travis Head delivered a scintillating century, while Marnus Labuschagne returned to form with a gritty half-century, propelling Australia to a commanding 157-run first-innings lead over India on the second day of the pink-ball Test on Saturday.
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For India, Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) were the standout bowlers, combining to dismiss Australia for 337 in response to India’s modest 180.
Local hero Head capitalised on two dropped chances, thrilling the Adelaide crowd with a blistering 140 off 141 balls. His knock, laced with 17 boundaries and four sixes, came at nearly a run-a-ball pace and shifted the momentum firmly in Australia’s favour.
With resilience and smart strategy, Team India has the potential to stage a remarkable turnaround, echoing their past comebacks. However, overcoming Australia’s dominance on their favoured turf will require flawless discipline, especially during the challenging twilight sessions.
India vs Australia: How pink ball is different
Day-Night Tests, introduced to add a fresh flavour to cricket, have brought unique challenges, with the pink ball behaving differently under lights. While thrilling, comebacks in such games are a rare feat, with only two teams defying the odds to clinch victory after conceding a first-innings lead.
TEAMS TO WIN A D/N TEST AFTER CONCEDING FIRST INNINGS LEAD
- 50 runs by SL vs WI Bridgetown 2018
- 53 runs by Australia vs India Adelaide 2020
The first such instance occurred in Bridgetown in 2018, where Sri Lanka faced the West Indies. Trailing by 50 runs after the first innings, Sri Lanka mounted an extraordinary comeback. Their bowlers, led by Suranga Lakmal, unleashed a masterclass of seam and swing bowling under the floodlights, skittling out the West Indies for a modest total. With nerves of steel, the Sri Lankan batsmen chased down the target, scripting a historic win that demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the unique conditions of a pink-ball game.
The second instance unfolded in the Adelaide Test of 2020, a game that will forever be etched in cricketing history. Australia found themselves trailing by 53 runs against India after the first innings. What followed was a spellbinding display of bowling by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who dismantled the Indian batting lineup for an astonishing 36, their lowest Test score ever. Australia capitalised on their bowlers’ brilliance, chasing the target with ease and registering one of the most remarkable comebacks in Test cricket.