Top 5 highest run-scorers in pink-ball Tests ft. Steve Smith
The India vs Australia pink-ball Test will be played at the Adelaide Oval from Friday, December 6. This will be the 23rd day-night Test. The first-ever day-night Test match was played between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in November 2015.
The Aussies have featured in 12 pink-ball Tests, the most by any nation. They have an incredible record in day-night Tests, having won 11 and lost only one. The defeat, however, came the last time they featured in a day-night Test as the West Indies stunned them by eight runs in Brisbane in January 2024.
Looking at India's record in day-night Test matches, they have played four matches, winning three and losing one. Their only defeat in a pink-ball Test came in Adelaide in December 2020 when they were infamously bowled out for 36 in their second innings.
As India and Australia prepare to clash in Adelaide in a day-night encounter, we take a look at the top five highest run-scorers in pink-ball Tests. Not surprisingly, all of them are Aussies!
#5 Usman Khawaja
Veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja is at No. 5 on the list of batters with the most runs in pink-ball Tests. In seven Tests (13 innings), he has scored 516 runs at an average of 39.69, with one hundred and four half-centuries.
The left-handed batter scored 145 against South Africa in Adelaide in November 2016. The 37-year-old also scored 74 against Pakistan in Brisbane in December 2016, 62 against West Indies in Adelaide in December 2022, and 75 during the same series in Brisbane in January 2024.
Having failed to make an impact in the opening Test of the ongoing series against India, Khawaja will be keen to deliver the goods in Adelaide. The left-hander has an impressive overall record at the venue - 415 runs in five games, averaging 46.
#4 Travis Head
Australian middle-order batter Travis Head is at No. 4 on the list of players with most runs in pink-ball Tests. In eight matches (12 innings), he has scored 543 runs at an average of 49.36, with two hundreds and three half-centuries.
Head hammered 175 off 219 balls against West Indies in Adelaide in December 2022. The left-hander also slammed 101 off 113 balls against England in Hobart in January 2022. The 30-year-old's other prominent scores in day-night Tests include 84 against Sri Lanka in Brisbane (January 2019), 56 against New Zealand in Perth (December 2019) and 51 against England in Adelaide (December 2021).
The southpaw has a tremendous record against India. Australia will be looking forward to another big effort from him in the pink-ball clash in Adelaide.
#3 David Warner
Former Australia opener David Warner features at No. 3 on the list of top run-getters in pink-ball Tests. Warner played nine matches (17 innings) and scored 753 at an average of 47.06, with one hundred and one fifty.
The 38-year-old's career-best of 335* came in a Day-Night Test. He notched up a triple hundred against Pakistan in Adelaide in November 2019. The southpaw's 418-ball knock featured 39 fours and a six. Warner's only other 50-plus score in a Day-Night Test came when he hit 95 off 168 balls against England in Adelaide in December 2021.
#2 Steve Smith
Former Australian captain Steve Smith is second on the list of batters with most runs in pink-ball Tests. In 11 matches (21 innings), Smith has scored 760 runs at an average of 40, with one century and five fifties.
The 35-year-old scored 130 against Pakistan in Brisbane in December 2016. His other prominent scores in pink-ball Tests include 93 against England in Adelaide (December 2021) and 91* against West Indies in Brisbane (January 2024). Smith also scored 63 against Pakistan in Brisbane (December 2016) and 59 against South Africa in Adelaide (November 2016).
Over the years, the right-handed batter has enjoyed his battles against India. He has, however, been in poor form lately and struggled in the opening Test in Perth as well. Can Smith turn things around in the Day-Night Test in Adelaide?
#1 Marnus Labuschagne
Marnus Labuschagne holds the record for having scored the most number of runs in pink-ball Tests. In eight matches (14 innings), he has notched up 894 runs at an average of 63.85, with four hundreds and three fifties.
The right-hander scored 163 against West Indies in Adelaide in December 2022, 162 against Pakistan at the same venue in November 2019, 143 versus New Zealand in Perth in December 2019, and 103 against England in Adelaide in December 2021. He also hit 81 against Sri Lanka in Brisbane in January 2019.
Like Smith, Labuschagne has also been struggling for runs of late. He was dismissed for single-figure scores in both innings in Perth. Labuschagne would, however, take some confidence from his amazing record in pink-ball Tests heading into the second match against India in Adelaide.