Adelaide Oval hosts the first ever day-night Ashes test

Ashes, the most coveted test-cricket tournament in the world and was given this label in the year 1882 by the British media, moved a step further on Saturday as Adelaide Oval entered the history books after becoming the first ever venue to hold a day-night Ashes test.

Although the first day-night Ashes test commenced this saturday, the tournament got its name way back in 1882 and in an extremely interesting manner.

When England lost the series to Australia in 1882 on their home turf, the team was heavily criticised by the English media. A British newspaper, The Sporting Times, had then written mocking the English Cricket Team, “English cricket has died, and the body will be cremated, and the “ashes” taken to Australia”. Before the returning leg to be played in Australia, the then English captain Ivo Bligh had vowed to “regain those ashes”. The English media therefore dubbed the tour “The Quest to Regain the Ashes”. Since then, the test series played between the two countries is dubbed as ‘the Ashes’.

The second test between Australia and England in the ongoing Ashes when started this Saturday, just like the 1882, it found a way to the history books. In the 2nd Ashes test, Australia is taking on England at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia.

Although tried for a few domestic matches, test cricket with pink ball is not a popular thing in India but Australia is experimenting with almost all the innovative formats of cricket including the four innings one day, day-night test and an even shorter format of Cricket called T-10, which consists only 10 overs each side.

The floodlit test Cricket isn’t a new concept either. It was first played during the World Series Cricket organized by Kerry Packer for his Australian television network called Nine Network (Now Channel 9) between 1977 and 1979 in Australia and West Indies. This tournament was not recognized by International Cricket Council, commonly known as ICC.

The Ashes has been one of the most prominent trophy and has a huge following across the globe and this may provide a phenomenal publicity to the day-night test Cricket.

Australia has already taken the lead of 1-0 in this series with their humongous 10 wicket victory in Gabba, Brisbane; courtesy a stupendous century from Captain Steve Smith. The second test promises to be more exciting, surrounding all the verbal clashes between both the teams, on and off the field.

Playing under the light and Australian weather will add to the problems that the batsmen are going to face. Australia definitely has an edge over the England, reckoning the home conditions, a lead of 1-0 and having the likes of Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins leading their bowling attack, Aussies have one the best bowling line-up in present day scenario.

England on the other hand, although, have James Anderson and Stuart Broad as their frontline seamers and Moeen Ali as their only frontline spinner, they are missing the services of their star all-rounder Ben Stokes. Anderson and Broad did created some problems for Australia, but without much support from other pacers, they were neutralized by Aussies.

Still, the road to victory in this second test at Adelaide is not going to be an easy one for Smith and his fiery brigade due to a fast wicket and floodlights. Though, the English side looked somewhat rusty in this Ashes series, their fans are hoping they would show some vintage English Cricket in this historic pink ball test game.

After the end of the play on day one, Australia has lost four wickets scoring 209 runs with Peter Handscomb batting on 36 in 83 balls and Shaun Marsh on 20 in 58 balls.