- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,723
http://wwos.nine.com.au/2016/12/07/...-very-different-pink-ball#157QR3hkPSgkkmC5.99
Pakistan are expecting their pink-ball experience from the United Arab Emirates to mean very little when they play with it for the first time in Australia on Thursday.
Pakistan pummelled the West Indies in the first innings of their day-night Test against in Dubai in October, hitting 3-579 before going on to win the match by 56 runs.
As such, they are the only other team to win a day-night Test besides from Australia, but Pakistani batsman Asad Shafiq doesn't expect many similarities in the ball's behaviour in next week's first Test at the Gabba, or Thursday's three-day tour match in Cairns.
"The ball was not swinging at the UAE when we played our Test over there," Shafiq said.
"We are expecting some good swing bowling here and that's why we are preparing ourselves for that swing bowling."
Pakistan opener Azhar Ali hit an unbeaten 302 on a flat track against the West Indies in that match, while wickets came at an average of 40.84.
It's a stark contrast to the lowly 26.67 each wicket has come at in the two Adelaide day-night Tests of the past two summers where the ball has been reversing earlier and further.
The humid Queensland conditions could exaggerate that even further in the upcoming tour match against the Cricket Australia XI and next week's first Test, particularly as each day enters the twilight zone in the final session.
However the visitors could earn some reprieve with a slightly flatter track in Cairns - regardless, they are keen to get their first indication of its behaviour in a match on Thursday.
"It is important," Shafiq said.
"That's why we are playing day-night practice match. That will give us a fair idea for the Test match."
However Shafiq, who hit 67 in the Dubai day-nighter against West Indies, backed the concept.
"That was my first experience," he said.
"Once I played with it then things got a bit clearer that it's not a problem about the visibility of the ball or anything like this.
"It's a very good move by the ICC."
The tourists will be without legspinner Yasir Shah for the three-day match against the inexperienced CA XI, as he battles to overcome back issues before the series-opener.
The match will be played as 11-a-side first-class fixture, unlike South Africa's clash with the CA side in Adelaide in October.
Read more at http://wwos.nine.com.au/2016/12/07/...-very-different-pink-ball#157QR3hkPSgkkmC5.99
Pakistan are expecting their pink-ball experience from the United Arab Emirates to mean very little when they play with it for the first time in Australia on Thursday.
Pakistan pummelled the West Indies in the first innings of their day-night Test against in Dubai in October, hitting 3-579 before going on to win the match by 56 runs.
As such, they are the only other team to win a day-night Test besides from Australia, but Pakistani batsman Asad Shafiq doesn't expect many similarities in the ball's behaviour in next week's first Test at the Gabba, or Thursday's three-day tour match in Cairns.
"The ball was not swinging at the UAE when we played our Test over there," Shafiq said.
"We are expecting some good swing bowling here and that's why we are preparing ourselves for that swing bowling."
Pakistan opener Azhar Ali hit an unbeaten 302 on a flat track against the West Indies in that match, while wickets came at an average of 40.84.
It's a stark contrast to the lowly 26.67 each wicket has come at in the two Adelaide day-night Tests of the past two summers where the ball has been reversing earlier and further.
The humid Queensland conditions could exaggerate that even further in the upcoming tour match against the Cricket Australia XI and next week's first Test, particularly as each day enters the twilight zone in the final session.
However the visitors could earn some reprieve with a slightly flatter track in Cairns - regardless, they are keen to get their first indication of its behaviour in a match on Thursday.
"It is important," Shafiq said.
"That's why we are playing day-night practice match. That will give us a fair idea for the Test match."
However Shafiq, who hit 67 in the Dubai day-nighter against West Indies, backed the concept.
"That was my first experience," he said.
"Once I played with it then things got a bit clearer that it's not a problem about the visibility of the ball or anything like this.
"It's a very good move by the ICC."
The tourists will be without legspinner Yasir Shah for the three-day match against the inexperienced CA XI, as he battles to overcome back issues before the series-opener.
The match will be played as 11-a-side first-class fixture, unlike South Africa's clash with the CA side in Adelaide in October.
Read more at http://wwos.nine.com.au/2016/12/07/...-very-different-pink-ball#157QR3hkPSgkkmC5.99
Last edited:
