Aussies start to unravel pink-ball mystery

One of the many unknowns facing the participants of the first-ever day-night Ashes Test next week is how to bat for long periods against the pink ball under lights.

It’s a rare challenge, one that's been attempted only three times by four teams ever in Australia and never in the women's game.

But it's a scenario Australia and England will encounter at North Sydney Oval from next Thursday and one they’ve been practicing for over the past two days.

Australia lost four quick wickets on Friday evening in the final session but were much more impressive on Saturday, posting 2-96 after the 40-minute dinner interval.

First-drop Elyse Villani batted for almost the entire night session at Manuka Oval yesterday, scoring a patient, reserved and unbeaten 48 from 114 balls as Australia moved to 2-126 and a lead of 108 runs over the ACT Invitational XI.

Villani said the time batting under lights was a valuable experience and she offered her findings from close to two hours at the crease.

"Towards the back end it was definitely a need to get forward," Villani said.

"There was a couple of worm burners (balls that kept low) towards to the end there just skidding off the surface.

"It was a really good challenge in making sure I was playing straight and getting really forward."

The last time Australia and England played a Test match was two years ago in Kent, where the visitors thrashed the hosts to set-up a successful Women’s Ashes campaign.

With so long between Tests, it’s no surprise there’s uncertainty as to how to bat in the longest format of the game.

Villani, an aggressive stroke-maker at heart, says she’s had to curb her attacking enthusiasm but is still following the formula of a familiar format.

"I’m not sure I have a Test match (mindset) to be perfectly honest," Villani said.

"I think just approaching it in terms of the middle overs of a one-dayer and thinking there’s lots of areas to score and trying to keep it really simple.

"For me it’s about keeping the ball along the ground a lot longer than I would in an ODI. That’s pretty much the only difference I think."

One of popular theories on the pink ball is that it moves through the air more when exposed to artificial light, a hypothesis Villani wasn’t sure about.

"I think it’s more so the pitch just changes a little bit," she said.

"In terms of the bowlers, they’re bowling good balls throughout the day so at any given time I think you can get a good nut.

"It’s just about watching the next ball that comes."

Expanding on what she and her teammates have discovered in the first two days in the nation’s capital, Villani said batting in the day was the best time to cash in.

"It’s making the best out of the conditions,” she said.

"The ball gets old pretty quickly so there’s not a lot to it in terms of once it stops swinging it’s done for the day.

"The seam isn’t too bad, probably a bit more difficult to pick up from the spinners than the paceys (fast bowlers).

"It’s pretty interesting playing this format. It’s really enjoyable though and a really good challenge."

Watch the Women’s Ashes Test LIVE and FREE on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app, with enhanced coverage thanks to the support of Commonwealth Bank.

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia lead England 4-2

Australia squad (ODI and Test): Rachael Haynes (C), Alex Blackwell (VC), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa (Test only), Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.

Schedule

First ODI Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI Australia won by 75 runs (DLS method)

Third ODI England won by 20 runs (DLS method)

Day-Night Test North Sydney Oval, November 9-12

First T20 North Sydney Oval, November 17

North Sydney Charity Partner: McGrath Foundation

Second T20 Manuka Oval, November 19

Third T20 Manuka Oval, November 21

Canberra Charity Partner: Lord's Taverners ACT