New Zealand dismissed for 202 in first day-night test

As well as seeing action under floodlights, the match will be the first to use a pink ball and McCullum believes it could spark a new interest in the long form of the game.

The chances of key New Zealand paceman Trent Boult overcoming a back injury and playing in the historic day-night Test have improved after he came through training without problems, coach Mike Hesson said on Wednesday. “It could be something that is outstanding for the game moving forward”.

Born in northern New South Wales and raised on a banana plantation, Hughes moved to South Australia to play Sheffield Shield cricket in a bid to re-boot his test career. I can’t wait to get out and give it a crack. The death, he added, “made me think, was I doing the right thing?”

“I think it’s really important that we continue to support the Hughes family and show our respect”. That’s been very consistent over the past couple of years with the pink ball.

“There are a few unknowns, but the guys who batted against the new ball the other night said it was challenging but it was not unplayable”, McCullum said. “It was a 48 or 72-hour period that none of us will forget and today’s just been a bit of a reminder of that”, Mr Jones said.

“We will find out once the game is over, I guess, but at least we have got the opportunity to test it out and we’re relishing that opportunity”.

“Credit to Australia they put us under a lot of pressure early on and knocked us of our lengths and dented the confidence of the bowlers who like to settle in on certain lengths and plans”. We are going to do our best to play with a smile on our face and hopefully play well for Hughesy.

McCullum played down the mystery of batting against the specially designed pink ball under lights, with expectations of it swinging more in the evening conditions.

Australia are contemplating playing two spinners with Stephen O’Keefe’s record in Adelaide bringing him into contention alongside Lyon. “I remember when Kerry Packer launched the first day and night cricket matches in Australia everyone snickered at him and questioned the viability and future of such cricket”.

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.

Australian captain Steven Smith confirmed this: “There’s probably a little bit more grass (on it) than I anticipated, so that probably swayed our decision (to release O’Keefe)”.

“We need to acknowledge that and see whether two spinners are an option”.