Pink ball Test: First comments on Adelaide – unpredictable pink ball for Steve Smith, different scoring approach for Travis Head and down-to-earth for Bumrah | Cricket News

Pat Cummins knew it all went downhill from there, but he had fond memories of the Adelaide Test the last time India toured.
“That was an amazing hour,” Cummins was quoted as telling Fox Cricket. “It felt like the match was in the balance as we turned up to the ground, and then within an hour, the game was basically over. The pink ball’s something we’ve had quite a lot of success with over the last few years and we know quite well, so we’ll see how we go,” he told Fox.

Speaking to Star Sports over the weekend, the Australian captain insisted bowlers should just stick to their basics. “I think, you know, all the basics stay the same. Sometimes it moves at a different pace as the ball gets older and softer or is hard, but outside of that it’s just Test match cricket,” Cummins said.

7/7 wins for Australia at Adelaide

Australia’s pink-ball Tests in Adelaide is quite astounding, and despite being under considerable pressure from Perth, the Baggy Greens will draw confidence from their record. In 2015 in their first pink ball Test at the venue, the Aussies had claimed a narrow three-wicket win against New Zealand. Win margins have been commanding since – by seven wickets vs South Africa in 2016, by 120-runs against England in 2017, an innings and 48-run drubbing of Pakistan in 2019, an eight-wicket win vs India in 2020, thumping England by 275 runs in 2021 and hitting back at West Indies with 419 run margin in
2022.

Smith wary of unpredictable pink ball

Pink ball brings along with a lot of variables. “Yeah, pink ball can be challenging at different times of the day or night, depending on where you bat and the situation of the game and ball, and all those kinds of things,” Steve Smith told Star Sports. “So just being really switched on. The pink ball can be a little bit unpredictable at times. So yeah, just being really focused,”
he said.

Head at home in Adelaide

Travis Head reckoned it can be a tough wicket to bat on and the drop in wicket, meant you gotta score in different ways. “I think it suits me. Obviously, I have batted there a lot. So been nice to get some runs in the last couple of years there and try to do the same again this year. It’s always a nice week for me. It’s relaxed. It’s when I’m in my own bed. I got a lot of friends and family. I got a lot of mates that come watch, and it’s just a good feel for the week. So, I’ll be looking forward to that,” the South Australian told Star Sports.

Kohli averages 63.32 at Adelaide

He’s fresh from a century at Perth, but Virat Kohli who is the only member of the 36 all out ignominy from four years ago, boasts of a fine record at Adelaide. He has accumulated 509 runs at 63.62 in four Tests, including 3 centuries there.

Labuschagne best Aussie in pink ball Tests

Under-fire Marnus Labuschagne has an impressive average of 63.85 in pink-ball Tests, quoted Fox. The Queenslander is ahead of Travis Head (avg: 49.36) and Steve Smith (avg: 40), in day-night Tests. Other Aussie batters have some catching up to do at Adelaide Oval, with averages of 39.69 fir Usman Khawaja, 35.14 for Alex Carey and
15.75 for Mitchell Marsh.

Down-to-earth despite Perth

Jasprit Bumrah is aware that the Perth win result will have little bearing on Adelaide. Fox quoted him as saying that India entered the second Test with no perceived advantage. “The conditions would be different as it is going to be a pink-ball game. The day-night game and the floodlights would make things different and we have to prepare accordingly. We have to start fresh, and winning the first Test doesn’t mean we are ahead. The preparations will be done from scratch. The players will be confident after our performance in Perth, but as you know, every game is a new game, and you have to give your best.” he said.