The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will take place at the iconic Adelaide Oval, with India and Australia set to battle it out in a historic Pink-Ball Test. After India’s dominant 295-run victory in Perth, the series has gained even more intensity, especially in the context of the World Test Championship standings.
India will be looking to bounce back strongly after their humbling experience in the 2020 Pink-Ball Test, where they were bowled out for just 36, their lowest-ever score in Test cricket history. Despite this setback, the series ended in a remarkable 2-1 victory for India, and they’ll be hoping to put those painful memories behind them as they head into this challenging encounter.
Australia, meanwhile, enters the match with an impressive record in day-night Tests. The hosts are unbeaten in pink-ball matches, having won 11 of their 12 matches under lights. Their pace attack, led by Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland, has been especially potent, and the team’s excellent record in these conditions adds to their confidence heading into the match.
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The Adelaide pitch is expected to offer a challenging surface that could benefit both pace bowlers and spinners. Traditional pink-ball Tests have shown that the ball behaves differently under lights, and with the conditions likely to provide some assistance, both teams will look to exploit any early advantages.
Adelaide Oval Pitch 👀 pic.twitter.com/MvjuQx0Pik
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) December 2, 2024
For India, Jasprit Bumrah will be a key player. His pink-ball record is exceptional, with 10 wickets at an average of 14.50 in just three matches. Ravichandran Ashwin, if selected, has been equally impressive, picking up 18 wickets in four day-night Tests at an average of 13.83.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc is the standout bowler, with 66 wickets in 12 pink-ball matches at an average of 18.71. Along with Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, he adds depth to the Australian bowling attack. The match will also be a test for India’s younger bowlers, including Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who have no prior experience in day-night Tests.
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Australia will be without Josh Hazlewood for this match due to a low-grade left-side injury, which could see Boland stepping in. This marks Hazlewood’s first absence from a home Test against India, ending a streak of nine consecutive home Tests in which the quartet of Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins, and Nathan Lyon featured together.
