The first ever day-night Test in the history of Test cricket has ended with a great thriller at Adelaide Oval on Sunday (29 November). Australia has won the match by three wickets that helped them to clinch the Commonwealth Bank three-match Test series 2-0 against their eternal Trans-Tasman rival New Zealand.
The match was officially attended by 123,736 passionate cricket lover in three days. The experiment to bring back the Test cricket fans in the stand has been successful. The match ended in three days, but it was a great thriller as Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill’s partnership in the Australia’s first innings, Josh Hazlewood’s angelic spell in the second night and Trent Boult’s never say die attitude at the closing of the showpiece match have made players, spectators, administrators and fans to go gung-ho.
New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum even after losing the Test hailed the experiment of the Day-Night Test, “It was an outstanding game of cricket. Obviously completely contrasting to what we have seen in the series”. He added, “In terms of an experiment I thought it went off as good as it could do, and the crowd supported it and it was an outstanding game of cricket.”
Winning captain Steve Smith said, “The bowlers have dominated this game and it’s great for cricket.”
Question mark over Decision Review System (DRS)!
The result could be different if third umpire Nigel Long could not take the wrong decision after watching the replay of Nathan Lyon’s shoulder-bat catch. But, that one wrong decision changed the course of the match as it was reflected in the result. Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill’s eight wicket partnership added more than hundred runs that helped Australia to take 22 runs first innings lead over New Zealand.
When Trent Boult started coming hard on the Australia’s tail the host had three wickets in hand and two runs were needed. But, for a while Boult showed he could still make it for New Zealand. So, if New Zealand got the first innings lead they could script their name on the positive side of the history. Third umpire Nigel Long probably realised that what a serious mistake he made that is why he looked despondent at the post-match ceremony. He watched all angles through the hot spot, which marked a spot on the bat. But his decision to give Lyon not out after using Snickometer, which is least trusted, has changed the course of the match.
Third umpire Nigel Long
“Obvious mark on hot-spot, Lyon clearly hit the ball onto his shoulder & he walked off the ground. Ridiculous waste of time & wrong decision,” Shane Warne slammed the decision.
Nigel Long’s decision pushed New Zealand’s second innings under the artificial light under which batsmen were finding difficult to cope with. New Zealand lost their top half for 116 runs under flood light as Josh Hazlewood wrecked havoc on them.
The world cricket fraternity embraced the experiment. Michael Vaughan, who criticised the Nagpur pitch as India’s victory came within three days over South Africa, hailed the Adelaide Oval day-night Test, “Brilliant 1st ever Day/Night Test. It’s here today stay in certain parts of the world. Great for the game.”
The Subcontinent is not ideal for the pink ball as it “usually loses its lacre and leather gets exposed.”
Things to remember about day-night Test is that the Adelaide Oval pitch, which rather resemble subcontinent pitches, has not seen any Test matches ended in three days in the last 64 years. West Indies had defeated Australia by 6 wickets for the last time. Meanwhile, the Adelaide Oval both of the teams failed to score a 300 run innings after two high scoring Brisbane and Perth Tests.
But, in the wake of the huge success of first ever day-night Test match nobody raised the question why the first ever day-night Test ended in three days. Everybody was startled by the response of evening fans who filled the stadium.
Legendary bowler Wasim Akram expressed his joy, “I enjoyed the concept of Day-Night Test. It was different and good to see the use of pink.” While observing the nature of pink ball, Akram did not bother to say, “The pink ball usually loses its lacre and leather gets exposed.”
But, the problem of the ball yet to get wide attention from the cricket fraternity. The problem of batsmen in handling the pink ball under the flood light was visible. Bowlers loved the pink ball. 37 wickets fall in three days. But under flood light New Zealand batsmen were startled while Australian batsmen faced problem in the third day-night.
In the Australian climate where evening looms late in the sky, batsmen found the pink ball not ideal for them. So, what will happen when a day-night Test will be played in the subcontinent, where the ball will be turning left right and skid often. Wasim Akram imagined a first-ever Day-Night Test between Pakistan and India at historic Eden Gardens in front of the fully packed house. Notwithstanding, it will not be a foil as first of all BCCI, who has an allergy to embrace any innovation, unlikely to accept it and to add more woe to the pink ball the sub-continent pitches are not ideal for it as they are not as fast as Australian grounds.
Mitchell Santner of New Zealand missing a skier at the Adelaide Oval on the third day.
Unlike the white and red the pink balls don’t roll fast; It does not a matter whether batsmen perfectly timed it or not as it “usually loses its lacre and leather gets exposed.”
Day-night Test is a hallucination in subcontinent pitches as when it will be played either in India, Bangladesh or in Sri Lanka and Pakistan a lot of changes will be needed as humid and tropical climate will not suit the pink ball.
A lot of catches also were dropped by Australian and New Zealand fielders. Australian captain, Steve Smith missed one easy catch at slip while New Zealand Mitchell Santner could not see the skier on third day evening. The pink ball also did not carry much, as a result, a number of slip catches did not materialize.
So, when result oriented Test matches are ending within three days. Aussie spin wizard Shane Warne gave a solution, “Test matches should last four days, with 100 overs bowled per day” And “The Duke ball should be used in every country because it swings and seams more.”
There was a whisper that why should Test matches not played in a coloured dress. If that happen the Test match will lose its grace. But, If the day-night Test has to continue then the white ball may be the best option because it has a good history under flood light. Afterall critics and fans and broadcasters don’t love to watch a Test match that ends in three days every time.