Top matches of 2015: 8) The day-night test

The day-night test. Photo / Getty

The inaugural day-night test finished too early to be considered a classic, but the three days shone a floodlight on the sport's future.

Australia's first innings also delivered a moment of infamy to join the 1981 Underarm and 1987 Mike Whitney non-lbw and Greg Dyer non-catch incidents. At 118 for eight, television umpire Nigel Llong suggested a hotspot mark on Nathan Lyon's bat "could have come from anywhere". No points for guessing where 34 of the extra 72 ninth-wicket runs came from, after Lyon's reprieve.

A lush outfield and the grass covering on the pitch protected the ball, giving cause for pace bowlers to rejoice after the Perth match where they impersonated buffets.

It was worth the players' while too, with a guaranteed $1 million prize pool. Australia earned $600,000 for the victory and New Zealand $400,000 for the loss, which compounded as their first series defeat in the past eight.

The crowd of 123,736 brought in significant revenue for Cricket Australia, despite losing two days with the reversal of batting fortunes.

Kane Williamson and David Warner were examples. The pair made a combined 1020 runs across the series but mustered only 67 from their combined four innings in Adelaide.

In addition, Peter Nevill's 66 was the lowest top score in a test at the venue; it was the first time in 22 years no century had been made.

Overseas broadcast markets might also be wary if such fixtures are prone to fizzle and revenue cannot be recouped through strong enough advertising commitments.

Regardless, the concept has merit as a permanent tenant with New Zealand considering plans to host a replica.

The simplest improvement might be to add two extra rows of green rather than white stitching on the seam. The theory is that adding the colouring to contrast against the pink leather will further enhance visibility and restore a top batsman's competitive advantage.

The fan experience is a cornerstone on which cricket is built, but it risks being diluted if players consider their working conditions unreasonable.

Match report