Australia vs India: A Cricket Test to Forget a Chaotic Year

Australia and India: A Cricket Classic in Times of Covid-19

In a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare to face each other on the same stage where they began their last encounter in 2018: the Adelaide Oval. A duel that promises to be memorable. The presence of the historical marker and the Moreton Bay trees at the northern end of the field evoke the tradition of cricket, creating a special atmosphere for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in India’s first day/night Test away from home. This clash between two cricket powerhouses has added value, especially after a year full of uncertainty. The series, which seemed uncertain in the months of March, April, and May, finally materializes thanks to the collaboration between Cricket Australia and the BCCI. The challenges for CA’s interim CEO, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, focused primarily on securing an entry point for the charter plane carrying the visiting team. Initially, it was planned to land in Perth, but the plan changed to Adelaide, then to Brisbane, and finally to Sydney, Canberra and the New South Wales government. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there were moments of tension due to a possible Covid outbreak in Adelaide. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough faced preparing a playing surface with a Christmas parade instead of the usual Sheffield Shield matches.

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

Damian Hough

The training sessions in the middle of the pitch, which the Australian team held before those who played for Australia A at the SCG, could be a key competitive advantage. Tim Paine highlighted this preparation as a crucial factor for the team.

Title of the publication: It is increasingly hopeful that Virat Kohli and Tim Paine will face each other later this year. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the preparation match at the SCG, will be a determining factor in Adelaide. Furthermore, this will be Kohli’s only Test in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in 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 last two series. However, if Kohli gets past that phase, he has shown that he can be dangerous for any attack.

“Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, 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

Tactical discussions and plans for the series are a respite from Covid protocols, border restrictions and the financial impacts of the year. Paine, who values his Test career more than most, shows no signs of fatigue. The frequency of encounters between India and Australia has been high in recent years, but the events of 2020 ensure that this new chapter will be as vibrant as any sporting competition, especially at a time when many around the world remain confined by the pandemic.