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The inaugural day-night Test may finally restore a bit of balance between bat and ball, with David Warner vowing to be more judicious at Adelaide Oval.
Warner started the three-Test series with twin centuries at the Gabba, lifting Australia to a 208-run win over New Zealand.
The vice-captain backed it up with his maiden double-ton in the drawn second Test at the WACA, where Ross Taylor broke all manner of records in his knock of 290.
Bat has ruthlessly dominated ball in the series so far, Warner setting the pace in unprecedented fashion.
Australia reached 2-389 at stumps on day one in Brisbane then finished 2-416 on day one in Perth – both venue records.
However, Warner believes the pink ball and a grassy Adelaide Oval pitch will make life harder for batsmen in the series decider that starts on Friday.
“Batters are going to have to take our ego out of it,” Warner said.
“We’ve had two very good wickets, now it’s about knuckling down and finding that respect again.
“There is going to be the new-ball factor with this wicket.
“You’ll see the ball move around a bit off the wicket.
“I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be anything like the last two wickets.”
Near-capacity crowds are expected for the innovative fixture, with predictions a lot of grass will be left on the pitch to ensure the pink ball stays in shape longer.
Australia had their first training session with the pink ball on Tuesday, when Warner hurt his left hand in a drill at Adelaide Oval.
Warner would have been worried as he left the field, having only returned from a broken left thumb four weeks ago.
However, the aggressive opener came out to bat in the nets shortly after and is in no doubt for the third Test.
Australia will train under lights on Wednesday, Warner noting they should prepare with the pink pill but not obsess about it.
“We’re here to win. If we concentrate too much on the ball, then you forget about what you’ve got to do,” he said.
“It’s about focusing on the game itself, not worrying about the ball.
“We play day-night cricket with the white ball, so we know what it’s like batting at night … we know that it can swing around.”
Tim Southee suggested the pink ball behaved somewhat like a white Kookaburra and Peter Siddle felt the NZ paceman had a point.
“It reacts pretty similarly to a white ball,” Siddle said.
“But it’s still a bit of a learning experience for all of us.”
Mitchell Starc showed how devastating the new ball can be under lights in last month’s day-night Sheffield Shield clash in Adelaide.
Starc grabbed two wickets in seven balls after Steve Smith’s late declaration on day one.
“We did see Mitchell Starc bowl very well when we came out here,” Warner said.
“The ball did swing around a bit.
“But it’s a different story when you’re bowling 150 km/h.”
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