BGT 2024-25: Smith Emphasizes Focus Before Pink-Ball Test Against India
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Adelaide, Dec 2 (NationPress) Australia batter Steve Smith expressed that he is highly concentrated on adapting to the pink-ball Test match against India in Adelaide after Australia faced a significant defeat by 295 runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener held in Perth.
The second Test of the five-match series is eagerly awaited as it will be a day-night Test, with teams striving to acclimate to the pink-ball. In their last and only pink-ball Test encounter, Australia triumphed over India by eight wickets, dismissing them for a mere 36 in the second innings, marking it as India's lowest Test total.
Smith, who struggled in Perth with scores of 0 and 17, acknowledged that adapting to the transition from day to night will present challenges for batters. "Yeah, pink ball. So it can be challenging at different times of the day or night, depending on where you bat and the situation of the game and ball, and all those kinds of things. So just being really switched on. The pink ball can be a little bit unpredictable at times. So yeah, just being really focused," Smith stated in a video shared by Star Sports.
Australia's captain Pat Cummins also recognized the difficulties of playing with the pink-ball, indicating that the pace of the match will vary based on the ball's condition.
"I think, you know, all the basics stay the same really. Sometimes the game goes at different paces as the ball gets older and softer or is hard, but outside of that, it's Test cricket," Cummins noted.
Australia batter Travis Head, who has achieved two centuries and three fifties in eight pink-ball Tests, expressed his excitement about playing under lights. In the last Test against India, Head scored 89 runs in the second innings, but the rest of the batting lineup faltered as Australia was bowled out for 238 while chasing a target of 534.
"It can be a tough wicket to bat on. Obviously, the drop in wicket requires different scoring methods. I think it suits me. I have batted there a lot, so it has been nice to accumulate runs over the past couple of years and aim to do the same again this year. It's always a pleasant week for me. It's relaxed. I'm in my own bed. I have many friends and family around, and it creates a good atmosphere for the week. So, I will be looking forward to that," Head mentioned.
