The Proteas bowlers have been given a heads-up by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who warns that dew could be a major factor in day-night Tests.

Proteas coach Russell Domingo hinted recently the day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide starting on 24 Nov could see an all-pace attack, because of the amount of grass left on the pitch to protect the ball.

But Misbah, fresh from a thrilling win over the West Indies in their day-night Test in Dubai, said that dew in the evening played a massive role in reducing the effectiveness of his bowling attack because the dampness affected the pink ball’s ability to spin and reverse swing.

‘With the sogginess, the ball was getting softer so different factors contributed and helped the batsmen score runs,’ Misbah said. ‘In the evening the pink ball was getting wet and the seam was swelling and it got softer.’

‘The pitch was on the slower side, I don’t know why, but otherwise the Dubai pitch normally starts deteriorating after two days. But since the dew was helping the pitch bind again it wasn’t breaking up at the same rate it used to.’

Proteas captain Faf du Plessis, said on the Proteas arrival in Australia that all the players were eagerly looking forward to the day-night Test, the third and final Test in the series which begins on 3 November in Perth

South Africa’s first practice match in Australia, which starts on Saturday, will be played under lights and Du Plessis is excited.

‘I haven’t faced or thrown the pink ball around so it’s all pretty new to me. It will be nice to see how it plays,’ he said. ‘We’ve asked around a little bit and read the stuff other teams have been saying about the pink ball. I’ve got no expectations of it. I’m going in without any experience of it at all.’

The Proteas will have another practice game between the second and third Tests, under lights, in Melbourne.

Photo: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images