Key Stats And Results Of Pink Ball Tests Before India Vs Australia Day-Night Match In Adelaide

India and Australia are set to face off in a day-night Test match at the Adelaide Oval starting Friday, December 6. This match is part of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. India leads the series 1-0 after a commanding 295-run victory at the Optus Stadium, which has significant implications for the World Test Championship.

This upcoming match marks only the second time these two teams will compete in a pink-ball Test. The last day-night Test saw Australia suffer a surprising defeat to the West Indies in Brisbane. Meanwhile, India hasn't played a day-night Test since March 2022. Here's everything you need to know about pink-ball Tests:

The concept of pink-ball Tests began in November 2015, aiming to rejuvenate interest in the longer format of cricket. The first-ever day-night Test was between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval on November 27, 2015. Since then, over 20 such matches have been held worldwide.

Day-night Tests were introduced as an alternative to traditional matches, offering a spectacle similar to One Day Internationals under lights. The shorter formats like T20s had gained popularity, prompting this innovation to attract more spectators.

Why Use Pink Balls?

Various ball colours were tested for visibility during night matches. Yellow and orange balls were visible for fielders but posed challenges for batters due to pitch marks. Ultimately, the pink ball was chosen for its superior visibility for all players involved.

Teams with Most Pink Ball Matches

Australia has participated in 12 out of 22 pink-ball Tests, winning 11 times and losing once to West Indies at home. Adelaide Oval has hosted seven day-night Tests, making it the most frequent venue for such matches.

India's journey with pink-ball Tests began at Eden Gardens against Bangladesh in 2019. Since then, they have played four matches, winning three and losing one. Notably, no day-night Test has ended in a draw; home teams often emerge victorious except for wins by West Indies, Sri Lanka, and England as visitors.

• Total Matches: 22
• Home Wins: 18
• Away Wins: 4
• Highest Team Score: Australia - 589/3 vs Pakistan (2019)
• Lowest Team Score: India - 36/9 vs Australia (2020)
• Top Run-scorer: David Warner (Australia) - 647 runs
• Highest Individual Score: David Warner (Australia) - 335* vs Pakistan (2019)
• Most Centuries: Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) - 4 centuries
• Total Centuries: 27 (including two triple centuries and one double century)
• Leading Wicket-taker: Mitchell Starc (Australia) - 39 wickets
• Best Bowling Figures: Devendra Bishoo (West Indies) - 8/49 vs Pakistan (2016)

Pioneering Performances in Pink Ball Tests

The first century in a pink-ball Test was scored by Azhar Ali from Pakistan, who achieved a triple hundred in that innings. Virat Kohli was India's first centurion in this format. Marnus Labuschagne from Australia and Dimuth Karunaratne from Sri Lanka are notable for scoring multiple hundreds.

The introduction of pink-ball Tests has added excitement to cricket's longest format by allowing play under lights. As India and Australia prepare for their next encounter, fans eagerly anticipate another thrilling chapter in this evolving tradition.