Can India stop Australia’s pink ball in Adelaide after conceding a first innings lead? | Cricket news

NEW DELHI: Adelaide Oval has been Australia’s stronghold in pink-ball Tests, with the hosts boasting an impeccable 7-0 record under lights ahead of the ongoing India-Australia Test.
Travis Head delivered a scintillating century while Marnus Labuschagne returned to form with a gritty half-century to take Australia to a commanding 157-run first-innings lead over India on the second day of pink-ball test on Saturday.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) were the standout bowlers who combined to dismiss Australia for 337 in reply to India’s modest 180.
Local hero Head capitalized on two missed chances and thrilled Adelaide crowd with a blistering 140 off 141 balls. His knock, laced with 17 boundaries and four sixes, came at almost a run-a-ball pace and shifted the momentum heavily in Australia’s favour.
With resilience and smart strategy, Team India has the potential to stage a remarkable turnaround, replicating their previous comebacks. But overcoming Australia’s dominance on their preferred turf will require flawless discipline, especially during the challenging twilight sessions.

Day-night Tests, introduced to add a fresh flavor to cricket, have brought unique challenges where the pink ball behaves differently under lights. While exciting, comebacks in such matches are a rare feat, with only two teams defying the odds to claim victory after conceding a first innings lead.
TEAM TO WIN AD/N TEST AFTER SHARING FIRST INNING LEAD

The first instance occurred in Bridgetown in 2018 when Sri Lanka faced the West Indies. After 50 runs after the first innings, Sri Lanka made an extraordinary comeback. Their bowlers, led by Suranga Lakmal, unleashed a master class of seam and swing bowling under the floodlights, bowling West Indies to a modest total. With nerves of steel, the Sri Lankan batsmen chased down the target and scripted a historic victory that demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the unique conditions of a pink-ball match.
The second instance unfolded in the 2020 Adelaide Test, a game that will forever be etched in cricket history. Australia found themselves trailing by 53 runs against India after the first innings. What followed was a mesmerizing display of bowling by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who dismantled the Indian batting line-up for an astonishing 36, their lowest ever Test score. Capitalizing on the brilliance of their bowlers, Australia chased down the target with ease and registered one of the most remarkable comebacks in Test cricket.