GROUND REALITY: 6MM GRASS, RAIN, PINK BALL AND TWILIGHT

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Test cricket is the pitch.

- Ashish Magotra

In every other sport, both teams have an even playing field. The same conditions—the biggest difference could perhaps be that the direction of the wind changes. But that's about it.

However, Test cricket is complex. You read the pitch wrong and you have five days to regret it. At the Adelaide Oval, the imperfect art of reading the pitch becomes even more of a punt because of the pink ball and day-night Test. The ball tends to swing more under lights and the pitch tends to quicken up later in the evening. The best time for batting is when the match begins in the afternoon and the best time for collapsing is the twilight hour.

But Adelaide Oval head curator Damian Hough is hoping his team has managed to do its job well for the second Test starting on Friday.