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India vs Australia Pink-Ball Test: Which team holds the edge?

India vs Australia Pink-Ball Test: Which team holds the edge?

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Dec 5, 2024, 20:05 IST

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India triumphed in the first Border-Gavaskar Test but faces a challenging pink-ball contest in Adelaide, where they previously suffered a historic collapse. Australia holds an impeccable record in day-night Tests at this venue. While India boasts a strong pink-ball record overall, Australian batsmen and bowlers dominate the format's statistics, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter.

India vs Australia Pink-Ball Test: Which team holds the edge?

(BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India could not have asked for a better start to their Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, securing a dominant 295-run victory in the opening Test in Perth. The focus now shifts to the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy beginning on Friday at Adelaide Oval, which will be a pink-ball contest.
However, Adelaide is the venue where India had a forgettable outing, collapsing to their lowest-ever Test total of 36 in the second innings of the first Test on the last tour Down Under. In contrast, Australia boast an outstanding record at the venue, having won all seven day-night Tests they have played there.

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Australia's juggernaut in pink-ball Tests

Australia have been incredibly dominant in the Day-Night Test format since its inception, winning 11 out of 12 pink-ball Tests. Their sole defeat in this format occurred against the West Indies in early 2024.
How India has fared in pink-ball Tests
India's track record in Day-Night Tests has been notably successful, with victories in three out of their four matches using the pink ball, achieving a 75% success rate. Their sole defeat came in Adelaide on the last tour.

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India's victories in pink-ball matches include triumphs against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and their latest success against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2023.
Most runs in pink ball Tests
No Indian batter appears in the top five run-scorers in pink-ball Tests, as Australian batters dominate the list. Marnus Labuschagne leads the pack with 894 runs in eight matches, averaging an impressive 63.85.

India vs Australia: How pink ball is different

Legendary Australian batter Steve Smith holds the second spot on the list, having scored 760 runs in 11 pink-ball Tests, including one century and five half-centuries. David Warner ranks third with 753 runs in nine matches, while Travis Head and Usman Khawaja occupy the fourth and fifth positions with 543 and 516 runs, respectively.
Most wickets in pink ball Tests
Australian bowlers dominate the pink-ball format, with pacer Mitchell Starc leading the way. He has taken 66 wickets in 23 innings at an impressive strike rate of 36.5. Nathan Lyon, the second-highest wicket-taker after Starc, stands out as the only spinner to claim more than 20 wickets in Day-Night Tests.

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TOI Sports Desk

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