Jamaica all set for pink-ball debut as pitch could throw surprises with both sides expecting ‘to be a few things going on’.
Jamaica and Sabina Park makes pink-ball debut.
As the teams get ready for the ground’s first day-night Test, it wouldn’t be shocking if the bowlers continued to dominate the West Indies vs. Australia series at Sabina Park.
After Sri Lanka’s low-scoring encounter in Barbados in 2018, which only advanced to the fourth day because to rain, this will be the second pink-ball Test to be held in the Caribbean.
Both teams have only practiced with the pink ball under lights for this Test match, which is being played with a Dukes ball. Australia has played 13 day-night Test matches away from home, with their lone loss occurring against the West Indies at the Gabba in 2024. This is their first time playing abroad.
“There might be a few things going on at night with the pink Dukes,” Mitchell Starc said, having batted against it on Wednesday. “It’s a new one for us as a group. I think Usman [Khawaja] is the only one who’s played with a pink Dukes, and it was an English Dukes, and he said the county game went for a day-and-a-half.”
The top-order batsmen from Australia had complained of “swing and nip” during practice, and the balls had maintained their hardness, although for a short period of time, Starc continued. Throughout this series, the red Dukes have gone soft and out of shape, leading to a significant amount of ball changes.
Starc is the pink-ball cricket bowling guru, having claimed 74 wickets at an average of 18.14. He needs five wickets to get 400 in his 100th Test match in Jamaica.
“I don’t think it’s poetic, but it’s quite funny that I’m playing [the] 100th in a pink-ball game.”
After multiple delays, the floodlight installation was finally finished near the deadline. Although they are constructed at a lower altitude than many others worldwide, the brightness (Lux) levels meet or surpass all specifications. The Australians had no major issues, however there are a few patches of somewhat darker ground at the Courtney Walsh End and in front of Kingston Cricket Club, which are close to the boundary.
“Not anything too dark,” Starc said. “Just the different levels of lights were something that people were getting used to. But, overall, I think pretty good.”
The only win for the West Indies in their five prior day-night Test matches came against Australia the previous year. From that match, they will have a maximum of four survivors. Darren Bravo scored their lone pink-ball Test century against Pakistan in 2016. Brandon King’s 75 is the highest individual score to date in this series, which has yet to see a three-figure score.
“It’s a challenge, but an exciting challenge,” King, who is from Jamaica, said of the day-night Test. “It’s something I’m looking forward to. You want to play against the best in any arena that you’re in. They’ve played the most pink-ball games, so they’re very experienced
“Sabina Park is usually a decent wicket. It’s usually a balanced wicket, something for the bowlers, something for the batters. And that’s what you want. Obviously, the previous two [Tests] were very challenging [for the batters].”