Australia vs South Africa 2016: 3rd Test Day 1 - 5 talking points

#1 Pink ball surprises under lights

The spinners got spin and bounce with the pink ball

All the pre-match talk revolved around du Plessis’ controversial ball tampering, but it was just the third Test to be played with the pink ball, a notorious ball under lights. However, contrary to wide belief, the ball held its own pretty well, not generating extra zip or swing as seen in the first ever day-night game between Australia and New Zealand.

When the South Africa declared, du Plessis would have been hoping for the pink ball to misbehave under lights. But none of that happened as the ball swung around, as a new ball should, but never did too much. Philander, Abbott and Rabada toiled to no effect with the new ball.

When Nathan Lyon and Shamsi bowled, the ball turned and even dipped well, to establish that in no way is the pink ball unfriendly to the spinners. In fact, Shamsi and Lyon might come into the picture even more on the 3rd, 4th and 5th days of the Test.