Adelaide Oval is set to host yet another
day-night Test, starting December 16. After winning the first Test in Brisbane
by 9 wickets, Australia will play their fifth pink-ball Test at the Adelaide
Oval in six years. It was the Adelaide Oval that hosted the first day-night
Test. Ahead of the second Ashes Test, here’s a look back at the matches so far.

Australia vs New Zealand, 3rd Test, 2015

A new era in Test cricket began under
floodlights with an inquisitive cricketing fraternity waiting patiently to see
what unfolds in front of their eyes. For a change, Test cricket saw a
full-house with day end workers hitting the Adelaide Oval to enjoy the
pink-ball Test. In the match, hosts Australia’s chase was perhaps a little more
comfortable than the final margin suggested. But it could have been very
different for New Zealand if Nathan Lyon had been given out caught at slip via
a sweep onto his arm, on 0, when Australia were still 84 behind – the third
umpire deemed Hot Spot inconclusive and there was no mark on Snicko. A
combination of seam and spin had brought New Zealand back into the game after
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood had shared six first-innings wickets.

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However, after Lyon’s reprieve, Starc, who was injured and did not bowl in the
second innings, helped Peter Nevill add 108 runs for the last two wickets. In
the absence of Starc, Hazlewood shouldered the burden and claimed six wickets
while Mitchell Marsh nipped out three to set up the chase. When Steven Smith
was lbw to Trent Boult, Australia were wobbling on 66 for 3, but Shaun Marsh
made a superb 49 while there were vital hands from Adam Voges and Mitchell
Marsh to bring the target in sight.

Australia vs South Africa, 3rd Test, 2016

In a bowler-dominated format of Test
cricket, Usman Khawaja’s magnificent 145 put Australia on course for victory.
With the ball in hand, Hazlewood showed his craft with the pink ball as his
four wickets reduced South Africa to 161 for 7 on the opening day of the match
before Faf du Plessis turned the innings around with the lower order for a
company. Then, having noticed David Warner was off the field and would be
unable to open, he declared late on the first day to try and catch out
Australia’s top order. It didn’t work, and the promoted Khawaja played one of
his finest innings, while half-centuries for Smith, debutant Peter Handscomb
and Starc secured a strong lead. South Africa could never quite form the
substantial partnerships needed the second time around with Cook the last man
out to give Starc his fourth wicket. Warner, Smith and the obdurate Matt
Renshaw ensured the chase was always in hand.

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Australia vs England, 2nd Test, 2017

In the 2017-2018 Ashes series, Australia
took hold of the match putting up 442 for 8 in the first innings after being
put in to bat first by England captain Joe Root. Shaun Marsh smashed 126.
However, England hauled themselves back into the contest as James Anderson took
a fifer.

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England were then bowled out
for 227 with Lyon taking four wickets with Lyon picking up four wickets.
Captain Steve Smith decided against the follow-on even though the night session
loomed. That gave England a glimmer with Anderson and Chris Woakes often
unplayable as Australia slipped to 50 for 4. The pair ended up sharing nine
wickets with only Khawaja and Starc making it to 20. Still, chasing down 354
with Hazlewood and Starc roaring to go with the pink ball was a difficult task.

As things panned out, Starc ran through the
Australian batting attack picking up five wickets for 88 runs as England were
bundled out 233.

Australia vs
Pakistan, 2nd Test, 2019                                                     

For a change, in pink-ball Test, which has
been dominated by bowlers, David Warner made a mockery of the Pakistani attack,
hitting an unbeaten 335. It was the second-highest individual score by an
Australian after Matthew Hayden’s 380. To make the matter worse, Marnus
Labuschagne scored 162, ruling Pakistan’s chances out in the Test. Australia
declared their innings 589 for 3.

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In reply, Pakistan were wrapped up for 302 as
Starc took 6 wickets for 66 runs. Captain Tim Paine enforced a follow-on just
as another night-time session took hold amid stoppages for rain, and Hazlewood
picked up three wickets while in the daytime on the fourth day, Lyon mopped up
the rest picking up a fifer. Australia beat Pakistan by 48 runs.