Australia in Pink Ball Tests: Match-Wise Results, Batting & Bowling Stats
Day-night Test cricket began in 2015 with the purpose of making Test cricket more exciting and giving fans a chance to watch the longest format after work hours. Even after ten years, pink-ball Tests are not played in every Test series, but Australia have made this format their own. Now they are set to host England in the second Test of the Ashes in Brisbane, which again will be played with the pink ball.
The last day-night Test for Australia was against West Indies, and the encounter once again proved why Australia remain the strongest team with the pink ball. Pat Cummins and his men emerged victorious by 176 runs in Kingston, bowling out West Indies for just 27 in the second innings.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc, known for his skill in pink-ball cricket, won the Player of the Match award with match figures of 1/32 and 6/9. Scott Boland was also a big contributor with six wickets in the match.
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Australia's Strong Record in Pink Ball Tests
Australia have never played a pink-ball Test away from home but remain the most successful team in this format: of the 14 matches they have played since the first day-night Test in 2015, they have won 13, with their only defeat coming against West Indies in early 2024 in Brisbane.
Australia's Match Results in Pink Ball Tests
| Result | Margin | Vs |
| Won | 3 wickets | New Zealand |
| Won | 7 wickets | South Africa |
| Won | 39 runs | Pakistan |
| Won | 120 runs | England |
| Won | Inns & 40 runs | Sri Lanka |
| Won | Inns & 48 runs | Pakistan |
| Won | 296 runs | New Zealand |
| Won | 8 wickets | India |
| Won | 275 runs | England |
| Won | 146 runs | England |
| Won | 419 runs | West Indies |
| Lost | 8 runs | West Indies |
| Won | 10 wickets | India |
| Won | 176 runs | West Indies |
There have been a number of strong batting and bowling performances from Australian players in Pink-ball Tests. Marnus Labuschagne heads the batting charts, having scored 958 runs in nine matches, including four centuries. Steve Smith, David Warner, Travis Head, and Usman Khawaja also feature in the top list of run-scorers.
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | 50s | 100s |
| Marnus Labuschagne | 9 | 15 | 958 | 4 | 4 |
| Steve Smith | 13 | 24 | 815 | 5 | 1 |
| David Warner | 9 | 17 | 753 | 1 | 1 |
| Travis Head | 10 | 15 | 719 | 3 | 3 |
| Usman Khawaja | 9 | 17 | 575 | 4 | 1 |
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Leading Wicket-Takers for Australia in Pink Ball Tests
Mitchell Starc leads in bowling with 81 wickets in 14 games, the best in the world when it comes to pink-ball cricket. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland have also delivered key spells in day-night games. England know the challenge ahead as they prepare for the Brisbane Test.
| Player | Matches | Innings | Wickets | 5w | BBI |
| Mitchell Starc | 14 | 27 | 81 | 5 | 6/9 |
| Pat Cummins | 9 | 17 | 43 | 2 | 6/23 |
| Nathan Lyon | 13 | 22 | 43 | 1 | 5/69 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 9 | 17 | 40 | 2 | 6/70 |
| Scott Boland | 4 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 3/2 |
Australia have built a formidable record under lights, and their bowlers know how to wield the pink Kookaburra better than anyone else. If England are to disrupt Australia's run in pink-ball Tests, they will have to cope with all three: swing, seam, and evening conditions.