Australia vs India: Cricket Resurges in Times of Crisis

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 same venue where their previous series began in 2018. The presence of the historic scoreboard and the iconic Moreton Bay trees provide a sense of continuity, a backdrop for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in the first day/night Test for India away from home.

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. From March to May, the uncertainty about the realization of sporting events was palpable. Despite the goodwill between Cricket Australia and the BCCI, the obstacles were significant.

One of the main challenges was finding an entry point for the charter plane carrying the Indian team. Initial plans to land in Perth were modified, first to Adelaide and then to Brisbane, before Sydney, Canberra and the New South Wales government were finally chosen. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would disrupt the series. Consideration was given to starting the tournament with a day/night Test at the MCG and then continuing with a traditional game from December 26th. The Adelaide Oval curator, Damian Hough, has had to adapt to various events, but this year he faced the challenge of preparing a pitch for a test match with a Christmas parade as a prelude.

“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

Practice sessions in the middle of the field are presented as a competitive advantage for the Australians who arrived before those who played for Australia A against India on a different surface at the SCG, something that Paine did not hesitate to highlight.

Paine highlighted the importance of having trained in the center of the Adelaide Oval, which he considers a great advantage for his team, especially in a Test with a pink ball, where adaptation is key. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not play in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial in Adelaide. This will be Kohli’s only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three matches. With players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, the Australians have succeeded in dismissing Kohli early in the last two series. However, Kohli has shown that he can be dangerous even for the best 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 undoubtedly one of the best players, if not the best player in the world,” Paine said.

Tim Paine

Paine emphasized the importance of having different strategies and options in the attack, with the presence of Lyon and Green, to face Kohli. 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 cricket career, does not feel fatigue from the “bubbles”. Paine stated that, instead of feeling fatigued, he feels good and fresh, which could even extend his time in the game. While the frequency of encounters between India and Australia has generated some fatigue, the events of 2020 have ensured that this new chapter is as vibrant as any sporting competition, at a time when many people around the world remain confined by the pandemic.