Top 10 teams with most wins in day-night matches in test cricket

Australia and New Zealand played the first-ever day-night match in test cricket at Adelaide in 2015.

With the talks of test cricket apparently “dying,” modifications were needed to the longest format of the game to keep it attractive to all ages. Therefore, the ICC introduced day-night matches. These are played with a pink ball.

Australia and New Zealand contested the first-ever day-night test at Adelaide Oval in 2015. Until now, ten out of 12 test-playing nations have played day-night matches in test cricket.

It has certainly added more interest in test cricket, and fans have accepted this form of the game readily. Here, we will talk about the record of the ten teams in pin-ball tests.

Top 10 teams with most wins in day-night matches in test cricket:

10. Zimbabwe – 0 win

Zimbabwe have played only only day-night test match so far. It was against South Africa at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth in December 2017.

They made a poor display and lost the game by an innings and 120 runs. Aiden Markram was the Man of the Match for his knock of 125 runs, while Morne Morkel and Keshav Maharaj bagged a five-wicket haul each.

9. Bangladesh – 0 win

Bangladesh have played only one day-night test. They played it at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in November 2019, which was also India’s first day-night match in test cricket.

India dominated that game, winning by an innings and 46 runs. Ishant Sharma was the Man of the Match for his figures of 5/22 & 4/56.

8. West Indies – 1 win

West Indies were part of the second pink-ball test match ever. It was against Pakistan in Dubai in October 2016, which Pakistan won. West Indies then lost their next three day-night tests against England, Sri Lanka and Australia as well.

Their only win in this fixture came in their fifth game when they beat Australia at Gabba by eight runs in a nail-biting contest in January 2024, riding on the heroics of Shamar Joseph.

7. South Africa – 1 win

South Africa have played two day-night games in test cricket, winning one and losing one. Their first D/N test was at Adelaide Oval against Australia in November 2016, which they lost by seven wickets after Usman Khawaja scored a century.

Their first home pink-ball test was against Zimbabwe in Port Elizabeth in December 2017, which saw them win by a huge margin of an innings and 120 runs due to efforts from Markram, Morkel and Maharaj.

6. Pakistan – 1 win

Pakistan have played four day-night matches in test cricket. Their first pink-ball test was against West Indies in Dubai in October 2016, which they won by 56 runs, riding on Azhar Ali’s triple century.

However, after that, Pakistan lose their next pink-ball test matches, two against Australia and one against Sri Lanka.

5. New Zealand – 1 win

New Zealand were part of the first day-night test held at Adelaide Oval in December 2015 against Australia. They have played four in total – two against Australia and two against England.

Both matches against Australia were held in Australia, while against England, they played home pink-ball matches.

Their solitary win in day-night matches in test cricket came against England at Eden Park in 2018, which they won by an innings and 49 runs on the back of Trent Boult’s nine wickets in the match.

4. Sri Lanka – 2 wins

Sri Lanka have played four day-night test matches and all four of them have been away from home. They have played against Pakistan, West Indies, Australia, and India.

They won two tests – against Pakistan in Dubai in 2017 by 68 runs and against West Indies in Bridgetown in 2018 by four wickets. Sri Lanka lost their pink-ball fixtures against India and Australia.

3. England – 2 wins

England have played the second-most day-night test matches until now (7). Their first day-night game was against West Indies in 2017 in Birmingham, which they won by an innings and 209 runs.

They have played 7 games in total, six of them are away from home, and won two. Their second win in day-night tests came against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui in 2023.

2. India – 3 wins

India have played five day-night matches in test cricket and won three of them. They have played three at home against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and England and won all three.

India’s two losses in pink-ball tests came at the hand of Australia, both at the Adelaide Oval. India lost their first day-night test match in 2020, when they were bowled out for their lowest test total – 36 runs. India’s second defeat came at the same opposition and same venue after four years in December 2024.

1. Australia – 12 wins

Australia have played the most day-night matches in test cricket and have also won the most – 12 out of 13. In fact, they play at least one pink-ball test in every summer. Australia have been playing and hosting day-night tests regularly since 2015.

Australia have a tremendous record, winning 12 out of 13 day-night tests. Their only loss in a pink-ball test came against West Indies at the Gabba, Brisbane in January 2024 in a thrilling contest by eight runs.

(All starts are updated till 8th December 2024.)

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