Australia’s impeccable record in day-night Tests

Australia have taken part in eight pink ball day-night test matches till now and have won all of them.

Australia and New Zealand became part of cricketing history in November 2015 when the two teams played the first-ever test match under lights. After New Zealand opted to bat first at Adelaide, Australia won the match by three wickets.

The team then competed against South Africa in another day-night test match one year later at Adelaide and won by 7 wickets. Australia’s 3rd day-night test match was against Pakistan at Brisbane in December 2016. Just a month after their victory, they took on South Africa and won by 39 runs.

Their fourth victory came over England by a margin of 120 runs during the Ashes of 2017-2018. Australia then beat Sri Lanka by a massive margin of an innings and 40 runs at Brisbane in January 2019. The same year, the team registered another innings victory over Pakistan at Adelaide.

Australia then beat New Zealand in their 7th pink ball test match by 296 runs at Perth in December 2019. In the first test match of the four-match series between India and Australia, the team maintained their spotless record by beating India by 8 wickets.

With Australia’s dominance in pink ball cricket, naturally the batsmen and bowlers who have shone the brightest in the format also belong to Australia.

David Warner is the player with the highest score in day-night test matches with an unbeaten 335 against Pakistan. Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are next with 162 and 145 runs respectively.

David Warner is also the overall top run scorer in pink ball cricket with 534 runs from 5 matches. Steve Smith is the next best for Australia with 442 runs for 5 matches with one century and three half-centuries.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc has been a sensation with the pink ball, picking up 46 wickets from 15 innings in test match cricket, with the best of 6/66. Pat Cummins has also picked up 26 wickets in the format.

Remarkably, day-night tests have never ended in a draw. The timings of the day-night test matches also allow professionals to be present at the ground or catch live action on television after they are done with their working hours.

There is little doubt then that day-night matches are the future of test cricket and given the early mover advantage, Australia have taken the lead.