Aussie in the pink but Black Caps see red

New Zealand have been on the wrong end of a DRS shocker in the day-night test against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

Umpire Aleem Dar thought long and hard before giving Colin de Grandhomme out after the Black Caps allrounder was struck by a rising Mitchell Starc delivery and the ball popped to slip.

De Grandhomme decided to review the decision, and replays looked to be strongly in his favour.

Snicko didn’t show a notable noise as the ball went past the glove, and there was nothing on Hot Spot to suggest the ball had brushed de Grandhomme’s hand.

All evidence pointed to the ball hitting the helmet only.

But third umpire Marais Erasmus wasn’t convinced, deeming there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the decision.

To Erasmus, there was a chance the ball had touched the glove before striking the helmet.

It meant de Grandhomme was given his marching orders on 23, much to his surprise.

The dismissal left New Zealand in all sorts of trouble at 8-155 in their first innings in reply to Australia’s 416.

Undefeated in six day-night tests, Australia used the lights to their advantage on Friday night with five wickets before finishing off New Zealand yesterday for 166.

Australia have played three more day-night tests than any other team, and it shows, in a format which has evolved significantly since the pink ball’s first appearance four years ago in a test.

Starc has taken 38 wickets in seven day-night tests, nine more than any other player. His 5-52 in Perth was his third five-wicket haul with a pink ball.

The pink-ball tactics were clear when Australia batted for time during Friday’s second session, putting survival ahead of runs in their first innings to make sure they had a new ball under lights.

‘‘If you look at that tactically, from red ball to pink ball, it’s very different,’’ Starc said.

‘‘Certainly, we batted a bit slow during that middle session.

‘‘But the plan was to try and get as close to the evening session with a brand-new ball as we could.

‘‘That was certainly pink-ball tactics to try and utilise the brandnew pink ball under lights.’’

Starc has claimed it suits him because it behaves somewhat like the white ball, but he’s also learned what changes to make to his length.

Not that he wants to see every test played with pink.

‘‘Don’t overdo it,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s great for cricket but I’m still a traditionalist at heart, so don’t take away too many from the redball game.’’

‘‘That was certainly pink-ball tactics to try and utilise the brand-new pink ball under lights.’’ Mitchell Starc