After the two sides are done with their bit of white-ball cricket, it is time for them to engage in an historic occasion. Australia and India will face each other in the first-ever day-night Test between the two sides.

Suggested Teams

While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms we come up with six different teams that could fetch crucial points.

Ground Details

Historically, the Adelaide Oval has been the best batting ground in Australia. However, things take a drastic change once we move from the red to the pink ball. 

Of the 15 innings that have been played here in four day-night Tests, only thrice have an innings not seen all 10 wickets fall. Australia have been the side to not lose all their wickets on all three occasions as they are yet to lose a pink ball Test in their history. They scored a mammoth 589/3 against Pakistan last year.

This is to show that the unlike on the usual flat wickets in Australia, the bowlers have their say in the day-night Tests. Hence, ensure to include a lot of them in your XI.

Among the two variety of bowlers, the pacers have dominated the proceedings. In pink ball Tests at the Adelaide Oval, pacers have bowled 72.6% of the overs and have taken 80% of the wickets.

There could be a few interesting match-ups too.

It will be one of the biggest series for Ajinkya Rahane. Once Virat Kohli leaves, he will be in-charge of leading India against the might Aussies. He will have to lead from the front if India want to challenge the home side. For that to happen, Rahane’s biggest threat is Australia’s off-spinner. So far, he has dismissed as many as five times in Tests with the Mumbaikar averaging only 26.4 against him. 

Captain Selection

It is tough to look past Virat Kohli as the choice for the captain in the first Test. His record at the Adelaide Oval is exceptional. He has scored 431 Test runs at the venue at an average of 71.83. He has three centuries to his name at this venue. Moreover, since this will be his last outing on the tour, we can expect him to focus all his energies to make a significant contribution for his side.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Kohli to score 34-51 runs.

X-Factors

Mitchell Starc is an absolute beast in the day-night Tests. No other bowler has picked more Test wickets with the pink ball than Starc’s 42. These have come at an impressive 35.6 balls per wicket. 

These stats make him an ideal choice for the vice-captain of your side.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Starc will take 4-6 wickets.

Marnus Labuschagne has taken Test cricket by storm since he walked out to bat as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith. With 896 runs, he was the leading scorer for in the five Tests of the Australian summer in the last season. Moreover, he averages 118.33 in the three day-night Test innings he has played so far. He should be a certain in your fantasy XI.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Labuschagne to score 172-259 runs in this match.

Mayank Agarwal was the find of the tour for India when visited the last time. In three innings he scored 195 runs at an impressive average of 65. Since then he has grown in stature as a player. It will not be a surprise if he finds a way to convert those half-century scores last time to daddy hundreds on this tour.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Labuschagne to score 12-19 runs in this match.