Pink ball declared a winner by crowd at first day-night Test match at Adelaide Oval

SEEING is believing and the early verdict from a packed Adelaide Oval crowd was the pink ball is a big winner for Test cricket. | WATCH THE VIDEO | GALLERY

• Relive the historic first day’s play

SEEING is believing and the early verdict from a packed Adelaide Oval crowd on Friday was that the pink ball is a big winner for Test cricket.

Many supporters were at the ground just so they could witness history being made when the pink ball was used for the first ever day/night Test — and the 44,400 fans weren’t disappointed.

Friends, Julie Feuerherdt, from Albert Park and Lisa Lefik from Salisbury East agreed that seeing the pink ball was “love at first sight”.

“We come to most matches, Tests and one-dayers and we’re already very partial to the pink ball – we love it,” Lisa said.

Caitlin Hurley, from Sydney, was wearing a special good luck charm for the day – Josh Hazelwood’s well-worn one-day cricket shirt, a present from the Australian fast bowler’s girlfriend.

Caitlin Hurley, Rob Alexander and Debbie Moses at the Test match. Picture: Calum Robertson.

The charm worked a treat as Hazelwood took the first wicket in a pink ball Test match, dismissing Kiwi opener Martin Guptill, leg before wicket, for one run.

“This is the making of history so we just had to be here for that,” said Ms Hurley, who left Sydney at 6am with friends Rob Alexander and Debbie Moses to travel to Adelaide.

“The pink ball is incredibly bright and Josh is bowling brilliantly with it.”

Rob was more focused on another benefit of a late start.

“The best thing about a day/night Test is we got to drop in to Hahndorf for a beer first,” he said.

“We always go the ladies day at the Sydney Test so we’re used to wearing pink and now we’re seeing pink.”

Ethan Geros travelled all the way from Cairns for the match. Picture: Calum Robertson.

For two 18-year-olds from the Barossa Valley, Jake Finch from Nurioopta and Carla Lienert from Angaston, it was their first-ever Test match and they were soaking up the colourful atmosphere.

“I watch cricket all the time on TV but this unreal being at a game,” Jake said.

“The pink ball is proving easier to see than the red one so far.”

Even before the first Pink Ball was sent down by Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, there was a sense of a special occasion.

Tickled pink at Adelaide Oval

Opera singer Greta Bradman, granddaughter of cricket legend Sir Don Bradman, sang the national anthem as the Australian flag fluttered on the sight screens at each end of the ground.

Dressed fittingly in a bright fuchsia pink dress, the soprano delivered a rousing final note to Advance Australia Fair that had the crowd erupting with cheers.

A traditional Aboriginal welcome and the New Zealand national anthem completed the ceremonies, and the crowd quickly overcame the disappointment of not seeing Australian bat first.

The pink ball proved tricky for a security guard who, much to the amusement of the crowd, required three attempts to return it from the boundary. The first effort ended almost on his head and the second effort landed behind him.