Pink-ball Test in series against India? Mitchell Starc all game as Cricket Australia announces schedule for Kohli & Co

While the attack of coronavirus continues, cricket associations and cricketers are trying to get the sport back into action. Now Cricket Australia announced the dates for the four-match Test series against India.

They also announced the limited-overs matches, slated for later this year and the schedule includes the first-ever day-night Test between the two teams. Talking about pink-ball Test, Australia has been hosting it every year since 2015 but had to make an exception in 2018 when BCCI refused to include it in the schedule.

 May 28, 2020

As for the series, it will start with three T20Is in October, followed by four Test matches in December and January and three ODIs thereafter. 

The first test will be played at Brisbane, followed by the day-night Test at Adelaide. The third and fourth matches of the series will take place at Melbourne and Sydney respectively.

As for India playing pink-ball Test, Virat Kohli and Co. are ready for the challenge and are expected to play the same at the Adelaide Oval, if the series goes ahead.

Aussie left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who is the most successful bowler in pink-ball Tests, having picked up 42 wickets in 7 matches at a sub-20 average, says he is really excited about bowling at the Indians in a day-night Test.

“I think absolutely a pink-ball Test in the series against India is a great thing,” Starc was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

“The fans love it, I think it creates a different aspect to the contest, bat and ball are closer together in that contest.

“India played a pink-ball game in India so they’re not completely foreign to it."

May 28, 2020

Australia have played more pink ball matches than India and it could be an advantage for them but Starc believes it is what home advantage is all about.

“In terms of an advantage, if you like, we do have a good record at home with a pink ball.

“That might come into a home-ground advantage and it’s no different to us going to India and they’ve got the advantage there.

“It’d be great to have a pink-ball contest in that series and from the little bits I’ve seen and heard, India are very much open to that as well so that’s fantastic,” Starc said.