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Day-night Tests still a mystery: Cummins

3 minute read

Australia has a perfect record in pink ball Tests but skipper Pat Cummins says they still bring plenty of unknowns.

PAT CUMMINS of Australia during the One Day International series between Australia and South Africa at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.
PAT CUMMINS of Australia during the One Day International series between Australia and South Africa at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Australia will enter a mysterious twilight zone when defending their perfect pink ball Test record, captain Pat Cummins says.

The Australians have played eight day-night Tests - all on home soil - and won them all.

England have played four, with just one win and three losses.

But Cummins says Australia's greater experience in pink ball Tests is countered by the great unknown of Adelaide Oval's day-night match starting Thursday.

"It just brings more unknowns," Cummins told reporters on the eve of the sixth day-night Test in Adelaide.

"We have played eight ... pink ball games and it's still not a huge sample size but you feel like you learn something new each time you play one.

"The unknowns of it are kind of the levellers at some stages.

"You might get a period of play where the ball just starts swinging around and you can't really explain why."

Cummins said "you could set your clock to this wicket" at Adelaide Oval.

"Really nice coverage of grass, pace, bounce, a bit of spin - just a really good cricket wicket," he said.

But the day-night factor was perplexing.

"One hour can be a long time in a pink ball game," he said.

"Either nothing can happen for an hour or it can be darting around everywhere and you feel like you're going to lose a wicket every ball.

"You can have a think about planning ahead but it really is instinctive. You have to see and play what is in front of you.

"There's some nights where the ball swings around and nips around and then the next night - whether it's a bit of wind or a bit cooler or something - you just don't get the same response.

"It's still a new format, still learning."

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