Ind vs Ban 2019, 2nd Test: List of all day-night Test matches played so far
With just a few more days left to the commencement of the much-awaited day-night Test between India and Bangladesh, the cricketing fraternity in the country has currently been painted pink. Marking the first pink Test in the country, the game is set to introduce a new experience to the Indian spectator.
The first Test under lights took place in 2015 at the Adelaide Oval. Over the course of four years, eight Test-playing nations have taken part in the eleven day-night games that have taken place so far.
As we gear up for the upcoming historic second Test between India and Bangladesh, we give you a glimpse into all the day-night Tests played thus far.
Also see - IND vs WI schedule 2019
#1 Australia vs New Zealand: 27- 29 November 2015, Adelaide Oval
Test cricket had embraced its newest form for the first time in 2015 when hosts Australia took on New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in the 3rd match of the Test series.
Adding to the fervour were the fiery fast bowlers from both the teams. While the likes of Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell shone for the Kiwis, Australia's pace pack was spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood, who accounted for 9 wickets in the match. A closely fought encounter that saw the pink ball dominate most of the proceedings, the first day-night Test ended in Australia's favour.
#2 Pakistan vs West Indies: 13-17 October 2016, Dubai International Cricket Stadium
The second pink Test of international cricket, between Pakistan and West Indies, was lit up by a remarkable triple hundred by Azhar Ali. The batsman's unbeaten 302 with the bat helped Pakistan overcome the Windies by 56 runs, in spite of Devendra Bishoo's spirited eight-wicket haul in the third innings.
#3 Australia vs South Africa: 24-27 November 2016, Adelaide Oval
The pink Test between Australia and South Africa will be remembered for Faf du Plessis' stunning hundred. With his back to the wall after being found guilty of tampering the ball in the series, the South African skipper drew admiration with his gritty knock. However, the effort went in vain as the Aussies thrashed the Proteas by 7 wickets, thanks to Usman Khawaja's memorable first innings hundred.
#4 Australia vs Pakistan: 15-19 December 2016, The Gabba
The first match of the Test series between Australia and Pakistan in 2016, has arguably had the most nail-biting finishes in the pink Tests played so far. Chasing a daunting 490 for victory in the fourth innings, Pakistan's charge was led by a terrific Asad Shafiq. The talented right-hander smashed a brilliant 137 and associated with the tailenders to give a mighty scare to the Aussies. The knock, however, proved futile as Steve Smith's team managed to hold their nerve and prevail by a margin of 39 runs.
#5 England vs West Indies: 17-19 August 2017 Edgbaston Cricket Ground
The first day-night Test on English soil was made special for the local fans by Alastair Cook. The legendary cricketer slammed an exceptional 243 in the first innings to help England gain an iron grip over the game. In response, the visitors could offer little resistance as England's bowlers ran through them to register an emphatic victory by an innings and 209 runs.
#6 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: 6-10 October 2017, Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Sri Lanka's first experience with the pink ball came when they locked horns with Pakistan under lights at the Dubai International Stadium in 2017. A memorable affair that witnessed an incredible comeback from Pakistan in the third innings, the match will be fondly recalled by the Sri Lankan fans for Dilruvan Perera's game-changing five-for. The off-spinner struck crucial blows to the hosts in the fourth innings to help the Islanders win the match by 68 runs.
#7 Australia vs England: 2-6 December 2017, Adelaide Oval
Maintaining their impressive track record in day-night Tests, Australia held the wood over England in the second match of the 2017-18 Ashes. Helped by Shaun Marsh, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, the hosts dominated the majority of the sessions in the game to defeat Joe Root's men by a margin of 120 runs.
#8 South Africa vs Zimbabwe: 26-27 December 2017, St George's Park
The South African pacers assumed total might as they handed a humiliating defeat to the visiting Zimbabwe. While Aiden Markram impressed with the bat, Morne Morkel and Keshav Maharaj took five-wicket hauls in the second and third innings respectively to pound the opposition by an innings and 120 runs in just two days.
#9 New Zealand vs England: 22-26 March 2018, Eden Park
The English fans do not hold fond memories of their team's day-night Test against New Zealand in 2018. Speedsters Trent Boult and Tim Southee breathed fire as England were bundled out for an embarrassing 58 in their first innings. Rubbing salt into the wounds, Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls struck splendid centuries as the Kiwis crushed the visitors by an innings and 49 runs.
#10 West Indies vs Sri Lanka: 23-26 June 2018, Kensington Oval
The pink Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka, at Barbados, was a low-scoring thriller. Chasing a paltry target of 144 for victory, the Sri Lankans were jolted by an inspired spell from Windies skipper Jason Holder. The fast bowler scalped five wickets in quick time to leave the visitors reeling at 81-6. A wonderful 63-run stand between Dilruwan Perera and Kusal Perera for the seventh wicket though made sure that Sri Lanka crossed the line with 4 wickets to spare.
#11 Australia vs Sri Lanka: 24-26 January 2019, The Gabba
The first pink Test of this year saw a red-hot Aussie unit roll over a spiteless Sri Lankan team. Bowling out the Islanders for below 150 in both the innings, largely owing to Pat Cummins' sensational spells, Tim Paine and Co kept their impressive record in day-night Tests intact as they beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 40 runs.