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Siddle impressed with day-night crowd

The pink ball produced 12 wickets, 256 runs and 47,441 fans at Adelaide Oval on day one - the final figure impressing Peter Siddle and Trent Boult.

General view of play on day 1 at Adelaide Oval
The new pink ball produced 12 wickets, 256 runs and a bumper crowd of 47,441 at Adelaide Oval. (AAP)

It's too early to get a good gauge of how Australia and New Zealand players feel about the inaugural day-night Test.

However, a bumper crowd of 47,441 at Adelaide Oval on day one demonstrated the immense upside to even the most skeptical of traditionalists taking part in the match.

It was more fans than attended the entire second Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth.

"That was the exciting thing for the boys," Peter Siddle said.

"The atmosphere out there today was amazing. From early on until the end of play, the crowd was upbeat and up and about.

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"With a crowd like that, it's definitely surprised a few of the boys."

NZ swing specialist Trent Boult agreed in that regard.

"It was a great buzz out there. Everyone could see that," Boult said.

"It's amazing to be playing Test cricket in front of that many people."

Boult added it was far too early to suggest the concept was a success and something he'd like to see happen back home.

"We need to see a bit more of it," Boult said.

"We've got to see how this one goes and how it pans out."

NZ were rolled for 202 then reduced Australia to 2-54 at stumps on Friday.

Bowlers would have had few complaints about the grassy pitch, which was produced to ensure the pink ball held its shape longer.

There were no obvious cases of players losing sight of the pink ball and misfielding, with Boult noting it stood out "like a sore thumb" once the floodlights took over.

However, fielding when the sun went down was a lot harder.

"It's just that little hour window where it is quite difficult," the left-armer said.

"(The setting sun) coming through the stands and stuff, that's definitely the hardest part.

"That's obviously something everyone is going to target in a way.

"It is a different game under lights."

Siddle suggested the pink ball played and held up "pretty well".

However, it reacted differently to the traditional Kookaburra.

"It was slightly different to the red ball. Not much swing early on but you did get a bit of seam movement throughout the day," Siddle said.

"So a lot of comparisons with how it is with the white ball.

"We haven't spoken too much about it yet. In time throughout this match there will be a bit more spoken about it.:


3 min read

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Source: AAP



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