Australia vs India: Cricket Match in Adelaide After Chaotic Year

Australia and India clash in Adelaide: A duel with history and challenges

After a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare for a new confrontation at the Adelaide Oval, the same venue where their previous series began in 2018. The iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees at the north end of the field offer a sense of continuity, a perfect backdrop for the first day/night Test that India will play away from home. This encounter between two of the most powerful cricket nations promises to be memorable, especially considering the obstacles that have been overcome for the series to take place. From March to May, the uncertainty about the future of the sport was palpable. Overcoming logistical and health challenges has been a priority for Cricket Australia (CA). CA appreciates that the administrators and players from India have facilitated the process. The challenges for CA’s interim CEO, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, focused on finding an entry point for the charter plane transporting the Indian team. The initial planning to land in Perth was modified to Adelaide, then to Brisbane, before Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government and the SCG Trust finally secured the venue. Negotiations with the Queensland government proved to be a considerable challenge. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would disrupt the series. Adelaide Oval, at one point, was scheduled to host at least one and possibly two test matches, given the prolonged quarantine Melbourne faced for much of the year. The Adelaide Oval curator, Damian Hough, has had to deal with rock concerts and changes in football matches. This year, he has prepared a pitch for the test match, with a Christmas show instead of the Sheffield Shield games as preparation.

“One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to live more in the present,” Hough said. “We like to plan months in advance. We still had plans, but we had to live in the moment a little more.”

Damian Hough

Hough also commented on the challenge of organizing the match, mentioning that a U2 concert last year was a bigger challenge. He highlighted that this year is unique and that they are grateful to be able to offer Australia training in the center of the court. The sessions in the center of the court are shaping up as an invaluable competitive advantage for the Australian players who arrived earlier than those who played for Australia A against the Indians on a different surface at the SCG, something that Paine did not hesitate to affirm.

Virat Kohli and Tim Paine

Paine highlighted the importance of training in the center of the Adelaide Oval pitch, anticipating a great advantage for his team. He acknowledged the difficulty of adapting to the conditions of a match with a pink ball and under lights, but emphasized his team’s preparation. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial for the result in Adelaide. This encounter takes on even more relevance as it is Kohli’s only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the captaincy for the remaining three matches. Australians, with players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, have succeeded in dismissing Kohli early in the previous two series. However, Kohli has demonstrated his ability to damage even the most formidable attacks.

“Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, don’t they? But that’s why they’re the best, they can adapt, they can change with what you’re doing, and Virat is certainly one of the best players, if not the best player in the world,” Paine said.

Tim Paine

Paine also mentioned that his team has plans that have worked against Kohli in the past and that they have different options for the attack. Preparation and strategy are key on the eve of this anticipated series. Paine, who values his cricket career more than many, mentioned that he doesn’t feel “bubble fatigue” and enjoys the current environment. He highlighted that life in the bubble could even extend his time in the sport. The events of 2020 have ensured that this new chapter between India and Australia is as vibrant as any sporting competition, especially at a time when many people around the world remain confined due to the pandemic.