Australia and India clash in Adelaide: A duel with history and challenges
In a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare for a new confrontation at the Adelaide Oval, the scene that hosted the start of their previous series in 2018. The presence of the iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees at the north end of the field, characteristic elements of test cricket, provide a sense of continuity. This backdrop will witness the first day/night Test for the Indian team away from home, led by [Tim Paine](http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7252.html) and [Virat Kohli](http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/253802.html).This encounter between two of the most powerful cricket nations promises to be memorable, especially considering the challenges they faced to make the series happen. Since 1999, Australia and India have played 12 test series, a number similar to the Ashes series that Australia has played against England in the same period. The uncertainty about the realization of this series was palpable during the difficult months of March, April and May, when the world of sport was severely affected.
The organization of the series faced obstacles, especially in finding an entry point for the charter plane carrying the Indian team. Initially planned to land in Perth, the plan moved to Adelaide, then to Brisbane and finally to Sydney, thanks to the support of the New South Wales government and the SCG Trust. Negotiations with the Queensland government generated great tension. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatened the series. The possibility of starting the tournament with a day/night Test at the MCG and then continuing with a traditional game from December 26 was considered. Damian Hough, the curator of the Adelaide Oval, faced these challenges, preparing a test pitch with a festive Christmas atmosphere instead of the usual Sheffield Shield matches.The training sessions in the center of the field are presented as a competitive advantage for the Australian players who arrived before those who played for Australia A at the SCG. Tim Paine highlighted the importance of these sessions, emphasizing the difficulty of adapting to the conditions of cricket with the pink ball and the lights. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial for the result in Adelaide. This match is Kohli’s only Test in the series, as [Ajinkya Rahane](http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/277916.html) will take over the leadership in the remaining three games. With players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, the Australians have succeeded in limiting Kohli early in the last two series. However, once he overcomes this phase, Kohli has proven capable of causing damage to the most formidable attacks.“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 a little more in the moment.”
Damian Hough
Tactical discussions and plans for the test series offer a respite from Covid protocols, border restrictions and the financial impacts of the year. Paine, who values his test cricket career, shows no signs of “bubble fatigue”. The frequency of encounters between India and Australia, added to the events of 2020, ensures that this new chapter will be as vibrant as any sporting competition, at a time when many people around the world are still confined by the pandemic.“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
