When the sun has gone to rest,
That’s the time that we love best,
Oh, it’s lovely roamin’ in the gloamin’
Harry Lauder, 1911
Harry’s heart was centred then on bonnie Kate McBride. We suspect that she may have enjoyed roamin’ with Harry on the banks of the Clyde more than Test batsmen enjoy facing swinging, seaming balls in the gathering gloom.
India and England are about to play the 16th day/night pink-ball Test match. Does the history of the first 15 give us any clues what to expect?
The bad news for England is that an away team has only won twice. Both times it was Sri Lanka. There are a higher proportion of low scores. Five have been under 100 with both England and India registering one apiece, India of course in Adelaide recently. And as Kohli and Root inspect the Ahmedabad wicket, they will be aware that pace does often take more wickets.
Any statistician will tell you that 15 is a very low base to draw firm conclusions from, so approach with some caution. But, here is our quick Guerilla guide for you.
- Of 15 played so far, only Sri Lanka have won away. Twice in fact, vs Pakistan in Dubai and s West Indies in Bridgetown 2018
- Eight D/Ns have been in Australia
- Only one in India so far (Ahmedabad is the 2nd). India beat Bangladesh at Eden Gardens by an innings in 2019, Ishant Sharma taking nine wickets, Umesh Yadav eight. Ravi Ashwin bowled five overs all game. Eight of nine Indian wickets also fell to pace.
- No draws in 15 so far
- In five completed innings (twice a first innings) a team has been out with a total under 100, including both England and India/
- The team winning the toss has batted first 13 out of 15 times. Electing to field both involved England. It didn’t work for Joe Root. It did for Kane Williamson
- Average first innings score across 15 Tests is 332
India and England:
- England P3 L2 (New Zealand and Australia away) and won 1 (West Indies at Edgbaston)
- India P2 W1 (Bangladesh at home) and L1 (Australia, Adelaide 2020). India famously all out for 36 in first innings