GOOD START BY AUSTRALIA ON DAY-1 OF PINK BALL TEST MATCH

So history was made today with first ever day night test cricket match. In day night:

First batsman ever to face a ball- Guptill.

First bowler ever to bowl a ball- Starc

First ever dismissed batsman- Guptill

First ever wicket taker- Hazlewood

First ever 50- Latham

First ever run scored- Guptill

First ever lbw- Hazlewood to Guptill

First ever caught- Lyon to Latham

First ever bowled- Starc to Santner.

First ever pacer to pick a wicket-
Hazlewood

First ever spinner to pick a wicket- Lyon

Santner becomes the only player to play his first ever test match in a day night test

Toss was won by new zealand

First ever two test sides to play are Australia vs new zealand.

First ever ground- Adelaide oval.

Australia ended Day 1 at 54 for 2 after bowling out New Zealand for 202 in the historic day-night Test at Adelaide. © cricketonline.org

It was a landmark day for cricket at the Adelaide Oval. For the first time in crickets rich history, on Friday (November 27), a Test match was played at night and with the use of a pink ball. After a long period of flat pitches and staid cricket blighting Test matches in Australia, the opening day of the Third Test was a highly exciting spectacle punctuated by the unusual sight of ball dominating bat.

After New Zealand were bowled out for 202, Australia reached stumps at 54 for 2 with captain Steve Smith unbeaten on 24 and Adam Voges on 9. New Zealand's first innings appeared meek but it was hard to assess their position in the game due to the unique conditions.

The great unknown was how the pink ball would fare under lights. Australia fought during a challenging last session as the pink ball swung noticeably but not too wickedly. It was a riveting passage of play with Trent Boult relishing the swinging conditions after struggling on the flat pitches in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Perth.

Boult claimed danger-man David Warner (1) early to revive echoes of his virtuoso performances during the ICC 2015 World Cup earlier this year.

Attacking opener Joe Burns played on for 14 to leave Australia in a tricky position but Smith, who has scored a century in day-night cricket in the Sheffield Shield recently, looked untroubled and will look forward to restarting in expected batting friendly conditions tomorrow afternoon.

It was a disappointing outcome for New Zealand after captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to bat.

New Zealand recovered well in the first session after the woefully-out-of-form Martin Guptill departed early. Opener Tom Latham continued to impress with a flurry of gorgeous cover drives highlighting his well compiled half-century. As has been a continual bane all series, Latham couldnt convert his decent start and was dismissed on 50 nicking an attempted cut off Nathan Lyon that was well caught by wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

Kane Williamson, who has been imperious all series, was unable to find his rhythm against an accurate Australian attack. Williamson fell for 22 after being trapped in front by a trademark Mitchell Starc yorker.

New Zealand suffered a horrific collapse after the tea break, losing three wickets for four runs in just 12 balls to slump to 98 for 5. The slew of wickets couldn't be blamed on the pink ball or a tough pitch like the one in Nagpur. New Zealand's problems can be attributed to recklessness and struggling to stymie disciplined Australian bowling.

Debutant Mitchell Santner, an all-rounder batting at six, made an impressive start to his Test career with a fluent 31. He memorably scored his first Test runs with a beautiful backward drive boundary off Peter Siddle. Santner's crisp innings came to an end when he was bowled by a sharp, full length delivery from Starc, who cheekily gave the debutant an earful of a sendoff.

Siddle justified the faith from selectors, who resisted the temptation of picking the younger and probably more talented James Pattinson. The selectors backed Siddle's renowned reliability and the veteran didn't disappoint as he plugged away relentlessly to finish with 2-54 from 17 overs. Memorably, he became the 15th Australian to claim 200 Test wickets when he dismissed Doug Bracewell late in New Zealand's innings.

No one dominated Australia's bowling, it was very much the quintessential team performance with wickets shared around by the four frontline bowlers. The only downside was a nagging ankle injury to Starc, who was forced to leave the field at the fag end of New Zealand's innings. Australia will be sweating on the fitness of Starc who impressed in his first Test as the teams spearhead after the retirement of Mitchell Johnson. Starc (3-24 from 9 overs) was able to make the pink ball hoop around, slightly reminiscent of his deeds with the white ball.

The days action was played amid heavy hearts due to the remembrance of Phil Hughes, who tragically died one year ago after sustaining a fatal injury to the head from a bouncer. Both teams wore black armed bands as a mark of respect and a video tribute was shown at the ground at 4.08 PM to signify Hughes Test number.

After a historical day, the Test match is well poised and progressing at a swift speed. New Zealand will need early wickets on day two otherwise the game could be quickly out of their grasp and the series over.

© Cricketonline.org

written by ~ CHARITHARDHA