5 things to look forward to in the third Test between Australia and New Zealand

The Test match format will witness the inception of Pink ballThe two familiar foes, Australia and New Zealand are set to face each other in the third Test of the Trans-Tasman trophy. When the two teams walk out in the Adelaide Oval, a new page will be added to the already magnificent history of test cricket. This will be the first ever day-night Test match played and also the first time a pink ball will be used in international cricket.Australia lead New Zealand 1-0 in the series after they trumped their neighbours in the first clash of the series at Brisbane. However, in the second match at Perth, tons of runs were scored and the match ended in a draw. More than everything, the match at WACA will forever be remembered as Mitchell Johnson’s last appearance for Australia.Although, time stops for no one as the rivals will go head to head again in Adelaide with the Kangaroos trying to seal the series and the Kiwis trying to level the odds.Here are five things we can look forward to in the Test match.

#1 First day-night Test match

Blackcaps playing a D/N practice Test match

In order to save Test match cricket from fading away in the midst of the razzmatazz which the shorter formats of the game provide to the fans, the MCC World Cricket Committee decided that a day-night version of the Test should be incepted.

After a lot of adjustments, discussions about the colour of the ball and practice matches, the third match of the series will become a first of its kind Test match.

Back in June, New Zealand cricket association agreed to play a day-night Test match in the Trans-Tasman series. The occasion has finally arrived and Adelaide Oval will become the first venue to hold a day-night version of cricket's oldest format.

The format is definitely going to attract a lot of fans in the stadium and reportedly 40000 fans are expected to flock to witness the historic moment. Cricket Australia has also announced the sale of cheap "twilight" tickets available for $20 after 4 PM local time, which means the spectators can watch the last two sessions of each day of the Test match after their day’s work.

The only thing troubling the players is the pink ball which will be used for the D/N edition as a number of players have expressed uncertainty as to what should be expected from the ball. Although, the BlackCaps have played the pink ball under lights in Hamilton and in a practise match in Perth and a number of Australian players have also played with the pink ball in Sheffield Shield matches under lights in Adelaide.

#2 Life without Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson has left a big void in the Australian bowling line-up

Mitchell Johnson announced midway through the previous Test match that he will retire from all forms of cricket and left a big void to fill in the Australian bowling attack. The ravenous bowler who was awarded the ‘Test player of the year’ in 2014 terrorised every batting unit he faced over his career.

Mitch was at his best in the 2013-14 season when he bagged 59 wickets in eight Test matches, seven of which Australia won. He destroyed England with his ferocious bowling in the Ashes and then travelled to South Africa and wrecked havoc there as well. His 15 wickets in the World Cup powered Australia to a historic fifth World Cup.

However, now that he has decided to part ways with cricket, Australian cricket must quickly find a replacement who can at least reach as close to Johnson’s level as possible. Peter Siddle is expected to take his place in the Test match and Australian cricket fans can only hope that the Victorian can help Australia to a victory.

#3 Mitchell Starc\'s pace

Starc clocked 160.4 kph in the last test match

The 25-year old speedster is probably in the best form of his life since the World Cup. His in-swinging yorkers have created a problem or two for literally every batsman who has faced him.

In the last match at WACA, the left-hander clocked 160.4 kph which prompted the Kiwis batting coach Craig Mcmillan to raise questions on the legitimacy of the speed tracking device. Reportedly, Starc has been creating problems for the Australian batsmen with the pink ball even though he was not happy with the ball few months back.

Starc’s teammate Nathan Lyon reiterated the fact that the speedster is bowling pretty quick and things can get really tricky for the Kiwi batsmen.

"He's on top of his game so I know he's looking forward to it. He's bowling very well, he's bowling very quick, one hit me in the gut the other day and I didn't even get a hand on it, that's how quick that's going," Lyon said.

#4 Peter Siddle\'s chance

Can Siddle replace Johnson

The 31-year old who celebrated his birthday yesterday will most probably be drafted into the team after Mitchell Johnson’s decision to retire from the game. The right-hander is just a couple of wickets away from his 200th Test match wicket, having played 57 matches for Australia.

Siddle has not played for Australia since August after he bagged six wickets in the last Test match of the Ashes series. Australia lost the series 3-2 and Siddle was ousted from the XI, however, Johnson’s retirement comes as a respite for the right-arm fast bowler.

He will try to recapitulate the form he showed when he last played at the Adelaide Oval in a Sheffield Shield match for Victoria. The seamer picked five of the first six wickets of the opponents South Australia in the second innings and carried his team to victory on a pitch where more than 950 runs were scored in the first three days.

The Australian feels that he is looking forward to bowl against New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson.

"I've had some good success against him in the past. I have troubled him, and had some good battles with him," the pacer said. The good players are happy to spend a lot of time out there and make you bowl a lot, so the more pressure you can put on them early on is going to work in our favor.

“You look at all the class players in world cricket: it's worked, hasn't it? It worked against Sachin [Tendulkar], it worked against K.P. [Kevin Pietersen], it works against Kohli. That's the thing, it works. It's pretty basic, but it happens against all the best teams."

#5 Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor\'s form

Kane Williamson-Ross Taylor

The BlackCaps were far from good in the first Test match of the series and looked to gain momentum in the second match. Although, two players who stand out from the rest are Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.

Williamson has scored 140, 59, 166 and 32* in the four innings he has played so far in the test series. With Siddle firing a warning to the classy batsman, it will be interesting to see if the batsman continues his blistering form or the Australian bowlers get the better of him.

On the other hand, there is Taylor who suddenly came to the life in the second match after starting with a duck in the first match, when he scored mammoth 290 runs which included 43 boundaries. He was unbeaten along with Williamson in the second innings of the Perth test match.

If both these batsmen continue their run of form in the D/N Test match then the Australian bowlers are in for a tough time.