Well the first ever day/night test match has been played over here and the pink ball was found to be a success.

It's just a shame that the Kiwis were the first ones beaten in the new format.

Cheers.

Coming from someone that doesn't watch... Or even knows the rules... What's so special about the ball being pink? (Versus, I'm assuming, white.)

---

Coming from someone that doesn't watch... Or even knows the rules... What's so special about the ball being pink? (Versus, I'm assuming, white.)

Test cricket is normally played with a dark red ball (white for 20 & 50 over matches), but the fluro pink ball can be seen by everyone no matter how far back in the stands they're sitting whether it's during the day or at night under lights (the other 2 colours can be very hard to see at times). ;-)

Cheers.

Ah, thank you.

Thanks Wiggo. Got a message yesterday saying No 2 was unlocked but saw no further posts.

Sarah Taylor helps South Australia win WNCL

And the second test has been won by Australia in just 3 days .

Australia 2 New Zealand 0

Record crowds flocked to watch the new format and the Pink Ball is a success

and now to take on the West Indies

---

Congrats to Voges and Marsh for the 449 partnership.

Well the Kiwis didn't push us much while they were here, but the West Indies so far has been a "no contest" affair. :-(

The W.I.'s went down in 2.5 days in the 1st Test and at the end Day 2 of the 2nd Test, after we declared at 3/551 with 4 batsmen scoring centuries, the W.I.'s are 6/91 (can they make us bat again? I don't think so).

Now for some news before more local T20 action.

Cheers.

The W.I.'s scored 271 in their 1st innings, but Steve Smith this time didn't enforce the follow on, so at stumps the Aussies were 3/179 (a lead of 459 runs).

We'll find out in 2hrs if an overnight declaration has happened or we'll bat for a little longer.

Cheers.

At the Tea Break the W.I.'s are 4/146 (we Aussies scored 3/176 in just 1 session late yesterday arvo).

Now this sort of blocking innings is what gives Test Cricket it's bad name (boring).

Cheers.

Well instead of watching Day 5 I can mow the grass as the Aussies win and right on the brink of the extra 30mins play by 177runs.

[Edit]Time now for some T20 action. :-)

Cheers.

Australian captain Steve Smith has taken out No.1 spot in the Test run scoring list for this year. :-)

http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/steve-smith-tops-test-run-scoring-list-for-2015-australian-captains-first-time-at-no1/news-story/67050fc46e40783d17d4a0603bd56084

Cheers.

You guys are having too much fun.

---

You guys are having too much fun.

It's not the Aussies having the most fun at the moment, it's us in game against South Africa.
South Africa v England: Tourists in fantastic position - Steven Finn

ICC Test Championship
Team Rankings  21 December 2015 
Team		Matches	Points	Rating
South Africa	29	3308	114
India		32	3535	110
Australia	36	3922	109
Pakistan	28	2977	106
England		40	3940	 99
New Zealand	36	3578	 99
Sri Lanka	35	3123	 89
West Indies	29	2218	 76
Bangladesh	22	1026	 47
Zimbabwe	10	  53	  5

England having fun again in SA, 401 for 5 in the 1st innings

Yep, that's what was cheering me up this week :-)

India in the 1st ODI scored 309, but it wasn't enough going down by 5 wickets.

Cheers.

Hopefully India's performance the other day wasn't a 1 off and we get another good performance tomorrow out of them to test us again, which I can't say about the last 2 teams that where here this summer (the domestic T20 matches have been getting more public interest than the international 1's so far this summer).

Cheers.

SA get two records in one innings.

BBC - Live text

"Two records could go here. The lowest total made when every batsman has reached double figures is 358 made by South Africa against Australia in Melbourne 1931-32.The highest total when no one has made a half-century is 315 by England against West indies in 1956."