Can India stop Australia’s pink-ball juggernaut in Adelaide after conceding the first innings lead? | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Adelaide Oval has been Australia’s fortress in pink-ball Tests, with the hosts boasting an unblemished 7-0 record ahead of the ongoing India-Australia Test.
Travis Head delivered a brilliant century while Marnus Labuschagne returned to form with a tough half-century to give Australia a commanding first innings lead of 157 over India on the second day of the year Pink ball test on Saturday.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) were the standout bowlers as they dismissed Australia for 337 in response to India’s modest 180.
Local hero Head took advantage of two missed opportunities and inspired the team Adelaide Audience with an incredible 140 from 141 balls. His knock, peppered with 17 boundaries and four sixes, came at an almost rapid pace and shifted the momentum significantly in Australia’s favour.
With resilience and a smart strategy, Team India has the potential to pull off a remarkable turnaround, building on their previous comebacks. However, overcoming Australia’s dominance on their preferred turf requires impeccable discipline, especially during the challenging twilight sessions.

Day-night Tests, introduced to add a fresh touch to cricket, have brought unique challenges as the pink ball behaves differently under lights. Comebacks in such games, while exciting, are a rare feat as only two teams defy the odds to claim victory after conceding a lead in the first inning.
TEAMS THAT WIN THE AD/N TEST LEAD AFTER THE FIRST INNINGS

The first such incident occurred in Bridgetown in 2018, where Sri Lanka played the West Indies. Trailing by 50 runs after the first innings, Sri Lanka staged an extraordinary comeback. Their bowlers, led by Suranga Lakmal, displayed a masterclass in seam and swing bowling under the lights and defeated the West Indies by a modest total. With steely nerves, the Sri Lankan batsmen chased the target and secured a historic win that showcased their resilience and adaptability in the unique conditions of a pink-ball game.
The second instance occurred in the 2020 Adelaide Test, a match that will forever go down in cricket history. Australia trailed by 53 runs after the first innings against India. What followed was a riveting bowling display from 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 recorded one of the most remarkable comebacks in Test cricket.