Pink Ball Debuts At Australia Vs New Zealand Test Match

On the first anniversary of the tragic death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, questions are being asked about safety – and the new pink ball being used at this week’s historic day-night Test.

“You can erect plaques, and that’s all nice, but when it’s said and done, are we doing everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again to someone’s child”, he said.

“We’re going to be doing our best to play with a smile on our face and hopefully play well for Hughesy”.

One-day worldwide and Twenty20 games are regularly played under lights but it will be the first time that fans have watched a five-day game late into the evening.

“I think cricket in general was supported well here and it would have been on TV all over the world”.

Trent Boult, who had Warner caught at third slip by Tim Southee in the fourth over of Australia’s innings, described the atmosphere as electric, and said the first night session with the experimental pink ball “played out exactly as we forecast it”.

“They wouldn t want to see someone get hit with that pink ball at dusk on global television”.

The use of the pink ball, which has been specially developed for use in the day-night test, has also raised safety concerns.

“I think it’s really important that we continue to support the Hughes family and show our respect”. “We’ll take the lead from the Aussie guys on it and be respectful as we possibly can be”, NZ skipper Brendon McCullum said.

“Over five days you get some deterioration in the pitch, that’s part of the challenge of test cricket is conditions change quite a lot form day one and day five”. I think the crowds have rolled in.

Both teams wore black armbands and a short video tribute played during the tea-break in remembrance of the former Australia batsman who died at the age of 25 after being struck in the head by a ball during a domestic match.

“I think everyone who came and witnessed what went on will be very impressed with the whole experience”, Siddle said.

New Zealand have Neil Wagner in line to replace Trent Boult if the key paceman succumbs to a back injury.

“Over rates will be interesting as well heading into this test match”.

Following the retirement of Mitchell Johnson after the Perth test, Peter Siddle joins Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s tempo assault, with James Pattinson the twelfth man.

“There’s probably a little bit more grass than I anticipated to be on it so that added bit of grass has probably swayed our decision”, said Smith.

Tom Latham got a thick edge to spinner Nathan Lyon, after reaching his half-century, before Siddle found appreciable seam movement to find the edge of Ross Taylor – the double-centurion from the previous drawn Test in Perth.

“We need to see a bit more of it to be honest”.