The history of Test cricket is well and truly old as the first ever Test match was almost played 150 years ago. There have been some serious rivalries developed like The Ashes between Australia and England and many records were made in this longest format of the game. However, the Test cricket has recently evolved introducing the Day/Night edition in the year 2015.
The first Day/Night match was played between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in November 2015. And the recent D/N Test match was played between Australia and India which is the 30th D/N Test match till date. Australia had comfortably won both these games and in fact, Australia had won all the 8 D/N Test matches they played thus far! Here are some of the notable points from the Day-Night Test matches.
Lowest Team totals:
In what comes as a shocker to many, India were bowled out for just 36 in the second innings of the Adelaide Test match. This is the lowest Team total in the history of Indian cricket as well. India’s 36 all out is the lowest team total in Day/Night matches thus far. On the other hand, England’s 58 vs NZ in 2018 and Zimbabwe’s vs South Africa in 2017 were the previous lowest in the history of Day/Night Test matches!
Shortest Test Match:
The Day/Night Test match between South Africa and Zimbabwe is the shortest Day/Night completed Test match played thus far. The game ended inside two days – inside five sessions! South Africa batting first declared their first innings with 309/9 on the board. In reply, Zimbabwe bundled out for just 68 and 121 conceding a victory to hosts South Africa by an innings and 209 runs!
Amazing Comeback:
It was a tale of two teams making a comeback in the same Test match to dominate the proceedings! The game between Sri Lanka and Pakistan played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai in October 2017.
Having opted to bat first, Sri Lanka scored 482 runs in their first innings courtesy of 196 from their opener Dimuth Karunaratne. And they dismissed Pakistan for just 262 taking a 220-run first innings lead. Just when Sri Lanka were flying away towards a victory, Pakistan bowlers made a comeback bowling out Sri Lanka for just 96 runs in their second innings. Sri Lanka then restricted Pakistan for 248 in their second innings to win the Test match by 68 runs. This was a superb victory for Sri Lanka despite scoring just 96 runs in their second innings.
Top Performances:
There are two triple centurions so far in the Day/Night Test match. David Warner tops the list with an unbeaten 335* against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval in 2019 while Pakistan’s Azhar Ali was the first to score triple century in D/N Tests – 302* vs West Indies in Dubai in 2016.
West Indies spinner Devendra Bishoo bagged 8 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 2016 and his bowing figures (8/49) in that innings remains the best bowling figures in a D/N Test match innings.
Australia’s dominating record:
Australia have won all Day/Night they played so far – 8 games. They had defeated New Zealand and Pakistan twice each and defeated India, England, West Indies and Sri Lanka once each. Incidentally, Australia’s all Day/Night matches were played at home implies they had a little edge over the visiting team!
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