Venue Analysis: How has Adelaide Oval behaved in day-night Tests?

The Adelaide Oval is set to host the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia. It will be the eighth D/N Test to be hosted at this venue - no other ground has hosted more than three. The pink ball will be a huge factor as the change in colour of the ball will require the batters to adapt. The sessions timings are as follows:

Session timings (local time)

Session 1: 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm ACDT 

Session 2: 5.10 pm to 7.10 pm ACDT 

Session 3: 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm ACDT 

The three sessions will be under three different conditions: session one will be in broad daylight, session two will be during the twilight period in the evening and the third session will be under complete floodlights.

So far, seven pink ball Tests have happened at the Adelaide Oval, with teams batting first winning four of the seven games. Captains winning the toss have opted to bat a whopping six times.  

The Aussies have had a big upper hand in Day/Night Tests as they have a 7-0 record in pink ball Tests at the Adelaide Oval. Apart from the first instance of pink ball Test against New Zealand in 2015 where they won by a small margin of just three wickets, the remaining matches have been one sided affairs for the home team.

Pacers have had a big upper hand over spinners with the pink ball as they've taken nearly 80% of the wickets at a decent average of 27. Spinners have had a tough time in comparison, averaging nearly 40.00.

Interestingly, both pacers and spinners have struggled to take wickets on the first day, averaging nearly 50.00. Day two is when bowlers have tended to come into play, taking at least a wicket every 10 overs. The game usually has tended to move fast on days three and four, with the average for the bowlers being under 25 on both days.

Historically, batting on day one has been easier on a fresh wicket, with the pacers averaging 43 and spinners averaging 114. The bowling average of pacers, though, drastically improves day two onwards, with spinners also coming into play on days three and four.

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have been terrific in the first session during the pink ball Tests at the Adelaide Oval. Nathan Lyon has been able to make an impact during the the twilight session (session 2), averaging just 19.4. Scott Boland has also done decently in the one pink ball Test he played at this venue.

Lyon, who will be playing in his home ground, has been great in utilizing home advantage, taking 63 wickets in 13 Tests in Adelaide. Interestingly, the off-spinner averages a bit better in Day/Night Tests compared to normal day games.

What's to be noted here is that Australia batters have been far better in Day/Night Tests at Adelaide Oval compared to visiting batters. The Aussie batters have historically aced it after winning the toss and batting first, averaging nearly 75 in the first innings. The visiting team batters, in comparison, have averaged just 24. If we are to go by previous patterns, then, Australia will undoubtedly be looking to bat first after winning the toss. 

Marnus Labuschagne has been the best batter in pink ball Tests in Adelaide, averaging 80.4 in four Tests with three hundreds. Usman Khawaja and Travis Head have also performed well at this venue in D/N Tests. 

However, Steve Smith has failed to adapt to the pink ball as the Aussie legend averages just 32, scoring just three fifties in 13 innings. He needs to step up this time as Australia are coming into the second Test with a 0-1 deficit.

Adelaide Oval in Pink Ball Tests

> Australia have a 100% record in Day/Night Tests at Adelaide Oval, winning seven in seven games

> Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja have been Australia's best batters in pink ball Tests in Adelaide

> Mitchell Starc is the highest wicket taker in pink ball Tests at Adelaide Oval, taking 39 wickets in seven games at this venue

> Batters have had decent assistance from the fresh wicket across the first two days. Bowlers have dominated the remaining three days, averaging below 25

> Australia have dominated sides when they have won the toss and batted first

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