Mitchell Starc, a speedster from Australia, admitted that bowlers could use the pink ball to their advantage when playing under the lights. Bowlers have dominated the current West Indies vs. Australia series, and as Sabina Park gets ready to host its first-ever day-night Test, this trend might continue.
After the low-scoring match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Barbados in 2018, which only lasted into the fourth day due to rain delays, this will be the second pink-ball Test to be played in the Caribbean. Both teams have only practiced with the pink ball under lights once, and the current Test will be played with a Dukes ball.
Additionally, it’s Australia’s first time playing a day-night Test away from home. Their solitary loss in the 13 pink-ball Test matches they have played so far was at the Gabba in 2024 at the hands of the West Indies.
“The pink Dukes may be involved in a few activities at night. For everyone of us, it’s a first. According to ESPNcricinfo, Mitchell Starc stated, “I believe Usman [Khawaja] is the only one who has played with a pink Dukes, and it was an English Dukes. He said the county game went for a day-and-a-half.”
During their pink-ball training session, Australia’s top-order hitters reported swing and nip, according to Mitchell Starc, who also mentioned that the ball maintained its toughness despite the brief exposure to lights. In comparison, the red Dukes ball that was used earlier in the series has often become mushy and out of shape, resulting in a significant amount of ball changes.
In day-night Test matches, Mitchell Starc, who is considered the maestro of pink-ball cricket, has claimed 74 wickets at a remarkable average of 18.14. He is only five wickets away from hitting the 400-wicket mark and will play his 100th Test match in Jamaica.
The pitch at Sabina Park seems to be the most level surface in the series thus far, the left-arm pacer noted. Variable bounce and substantial seam movement were features of the preceding Test matches in Barbados and Grenada, which had a big impact on the matches.
It’s funny that I’m playing [the] 100th in a pink-ball game, but I don’t believe it’s poetic. It appears to be the most uniform grass cover we’ve ever seen.
At first glance, it appears to be the best of the three, but it’s kind of a lottery to see what the wickets do,” Mitchell Starc said.
After many delays, the floodlight installation at Sabina Park was finished just in time. The lights’ brightness (Lux) levels meet or surpass all necessary requirements, despite their lower construction height in comparison to many international sites. The Australian squad reported no major problems during their training session, although there are a few somewhat dimmer areas close to the boundary, particularly at the Courtney Walsh End and in front of the Kingston Cricket Club.
Nothing too gloomy. The only thing that people were growing accustomed to was the various light levels. However, all in all, I believe it’s quite nice,” Starc remarked.
The only victory for the West Indies in their five prior day-night Test matches came against Australia the previous year. It is anticipated that no more than four players from that victory will play in the current game. Notably, Darren Bravo achieved the team’s lone pink-ball Test century against Pakistan in 2016.
The difficulty of playing pink-ball is thrilling: King
Brandon King’s 75 is still the greatest individual score to date in this series, as no player has achieved triple figures.
“It’s a difficult but thrilling task. It’s something I’m excited about. In whatever arena, you want to compete against the greatest. They have the most experience since they have played the most pink-ball games,” King remarked.
“Sabina Park typically yields good wickets. A balanced wicket typically has something for both the hitters and the bowlers. That’s what you desire. “The last two [Tests] were obviously very difficult [for the batters],” he continued.
The highest innings total in the preceding Test match against Bangladesh at Sabina Park last year was a mere 268. The visitors won the second innings thanks to a five-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who changed the tide of the match.
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