But there is the matter of the lights and the pink ball – Australia have a perfect ten-in-ten record in day-night Tests
Andrew McGlashan07-Dec-2022Big pictureThe Frank Worrell trophy remains in Australia’s hands, as it has since 1995, and there was hardly any doubt it would be that way although they were made to work for their victory in Perth. It is that fact, the fight West Indies showed, which offers hope that the now traditional day-night Test in Adelaide may not be a walkover for Australia.However, it will only be a contest if West Indies find a way to break through Australia’s batting. Six wickets was the sum total of their efforts at Optus Stadium and a few of those came at times of little consequence. The one glimmer was the spell from Alzarri Joseph to Marnus Labuschagne, but such bursts have to translate into wickets.Related
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Still, the performance of captain Kraigg Brathwaite should be inspiring – his second-innings century was worth a debate about being his best in Test cricket – and the debut of Tagenarine Chanderpaul was highly encouraging. If others can follow their lead then there is the basis of being competitive, although the day-night element of this game throws up new challenges.One byproduct of the fight shown by West Indies in the opening Test is that already eyes are being drawn towards the workload of Australia’s quicks. Pat Cummins has been ruled out with the quad strain he picked up, which means, for the second year running, he misses the Adelaide Test with Steven Smith taking on the captaincy. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood also racked up the overs. For that duo, it’s not so much this outing that is the concern, but the fact that Australia’s entire Test summer is crammed into a little more than five weeks.It would, however, be one of the bigger upsets if West Indies – who themselves have a number of injury concerns – were able to level the series. In a way, though, it’s about the strides they can make in a series such as this. “Stay in the fight as long as possible,” assistant coach Roddy Estwick said. Australia should win, and probably will, but West Indies can make it as tough as possible for them.Recent formAustralia WLWWD
West Indies LWWWDIn the spotlightDavid Warner will feel he missed out in Perth. After dragging on early on the opening day and then watching Labuschagne and Smith pile up 200s, he got himself a base in the second innings before edging Roston Chase to short leg. Barring injury, his 100th Test will arrive against South Africa at the MCG and his future in the format remains very much in his hands, but an average of 22.78 in 2022 is lean. On a ground where he averages 76.86, albeit not all of that against the pink ball, he will hope for a substantial return.Alzarri Joseph raised the pitch in the first Test with a hostile spell on the fourth day•Getty Images
Even if Alzarri Joseph had not overstepped against Labuschagne it would not have been enough to change the game, but his spell on the fourth day did raise the question of what could have been, or what could be. He was said to be under the weather during an underwhelming first-innings display and that it would be unfair to judge him on that, so instead remember the pace and fire of his later spell. His career-best remains 3 for 33 but the belief in the team is that a breakthrough haul is close.Team newsScott Boland returns in place of the injured Cummins as the one change in the Australia XI.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Scott BolandWest Indies will wait until the morning of the game to give their injured players as much time as possible. Kemar Roach (hamstring) and Jayden Seales (knee) are both concerns, which means Marquino Mindley could debut 48 hours after arriving from Jamaica. Kyle Mayers won’t be able to bowl.West Indies (possible) 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 3 Shamarh Brooks, 4 Kyle Mayers, 5 Jermaine Blackwood, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Roston Chase, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach/Anderson Phillip, 11 Jayden Seales/Marquino MindleyPitch and conditionsIt is expected to be a typical Adelaide day-night pitch. Curator Damien Hough said he had left the standard 8mm of grass on the surface. The cool, damp spring has made preparations tricky, so it remains to be seen how much pace is in the pitch – the drop-in was only put into place last week following a Guns N’ Roses concert. The forecast is set fair and the temperature will warm up on Saturday. “This surface offers a bit to everyone,” Smith said. “There’s a bit of seam, if you bat well you can score runs and it offers some spin. Looks no different this year to the last couple of years.”Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul were impressive in the first Test•Getty Images
Stats and trivia Jermaine Blackwood will play his 50th Test Australia have a ten-in-ten record in day-night Tests Nathan Lyon needs one wicket to be the leading bowler in Adelaide, overtaking Shane Warne, while he and Smith need to combine one more time to go ahead of Warne and Mark Taylor as the most successful fielder-bowler combination for Australia. Lyon also needs four wickets for 450 in Tests If Smith scores another hundred, he will equal Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Matthew Hayden on 30Quotes”Bit more time to prepare for this game than last year. That was a bit chaotic. We are in a good place, played some good cricket last week, hopefully we can continue it here and continue our pink-ball form.”
“It’s very inspiring. For a long while we are close friends… he really came and showed that he had that hunger and determination to score that century. As a batting unit we have a lot to learn from that.”