Pink ball, green pitch greet India

D/N Game Marks Resumption Of Test Rivalry Between India And Australia After 15 Years

- Gaurav Gupta

In a step which should mark yet another leap for women’s cricket in India, the Indian women’s team will, from Thursday at the Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast, play its first-ever pink ball day/night Test against mighty Australia.

The challenge that stares Mithali Raj & Co for the next four days, or perhaps less, can best be described as ‘trial by fire’. After 14 days of quarantine since landing in Australia and a tough ODI series against the hosts, the only ‘tryst’ that they’ve had with the pink ball — which can be quite tricky — in terms of practice is two net sessions with it. Unlike in the case of the men’s cricket, where the Duleep Trophy has been held with the pink ball, Indian women’s team has no experience to fall back upon with the pink ball in domestic cricket.