Expert
The Adelaide Oval will be the scene of the first ever pink ball day-night Test, played between Australia and New Zealand, the third match of a series Australia leads 1-0. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:00pm (AEDT).
There is a huge element of the unknown coming into this match. Being the first ever Test match played using the day-night model means the players have absolutely no prior records to go off.
However, most players have had a crack with the pink ball, either in the Sheffield Shield for Australian players or on tour for the Kiwis.
After dominating the first Test at the Gabba, Australia looked set to do the same in the second Test at the WACA, after posting 559 in their first innings. However the Kiwis fought back, with a magical innings of 290 from Ross Taylor, on the way to an overall score of 624.
From there, the match was only ever going to be drawn, but the Black Caps gained important momentum before the final Test of the series.
Australia have had some forced team changes, with quick bowler Mitchell Johnson retiring, and Usman Khawaja picking up a hamstring injury while fielding in the second Test. They are expected to be replaced by Peter Siddle and Shaun Marsh, who have been called up to the squad, while James Pattison is a chance to play if Josh Hazlewood is rested.
New Zealand are expected to go into this game unchanged, with the only fitness concern being over Trent Boult. If Boult isn’t able to play, it is expected Neil Wagner will take his spot. This means they are again playing five bowlers, which may seem normal in a standard Adelaide Test, but the day-night element makes five seem excessive.
The key to this game is batting at night. In all previous trials, whether it be tour games or Sheffield Shield matches, a majority of wickets have fallen in the evening, particularly when a new ball is presented. Whichever team can handle this the best, or manipulate the game situation so they don’t have to bat in those conditions, will go along way to winning.
Join The Roar for live coverage of a historic day – and night! – of cricket from 2:00pm (AEDT), and don’t forget to comment if you’re following along with the action.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde