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Anticipation Builds And Opinions Abound As Pink Ball Test Approaches

Pink In The Evenings Is Getting Everyone A-Twitter As Third Test Approaches
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 28: A detailed view of the worn pink cricket ball after it was hit to the boundary at 5:39PM, half way through the second session of the day during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Queensland at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 28, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Scott Barbour via Getty Images
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 28: A detailed view of the worn pink cricket ball after it was hit to the boundary at 5:39PM, half way through the second session of the day during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Queensland at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 28, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

The third test between Australia and New Zealand begins on Friday in Adelaide.

This is not just any game of test cricket though: it will be a game which makes history as the inaugural day/night International Test match and if the amount of chatter is anything to go by, the anticipation may end up being bigger than the game itself.

There are many questions around this match: Will the public embrace the time change?

Will the pink ball be seen and hold up to the punishment of an international test cricket battering?

Peter Siddle of Victoria bowls with the pink cricket ball.

Cricket Australia is looking to revive what it sees as the dwindling interest in the iconic longer form of the game by moving it to a day/night format which will, it hopes, will draw in bigger crowds and better broadcast audience numbers.

Former Australian captains Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor have expressed excitement over the change.

The question of different tactics is also being raised with the elements of night, weather and light all entering the debate.

But how do the players feel?

Most have now had a chance to dabble in the new time-frame with the new ball through the Sheffield Shield and Tour matches played over the past month with Adam Voges and Joe Burns among those to have a say.

The players have been vocal in their wariness over this change in format and have asked Cricket Australia to temper its excitement and treat this test as an experiment.

It remains to be seen how New Zealand approach the historic test, but the Black Caps' batsmen may be a little nervous having experienced a collapse, losing four wickets for 30 runs, in its final session in the tour match against WA on Sunday.

But it may not be all about the ball. New Zealand still has player fitness worries in the lead up to the final test which the Black Caps will be keen to win and level the series, despite not regaining the Trans-Tasman Trophy.

Of course the questions over the pink ball and the time of day could all just be about perspective!

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