Australia vs India: Cricket match in Adelaide, a respite after a chaotic year

Australia and India Clash in Adelaide: A Cricket Classic in Uncertain Times

Elite cricket returns to Adelaide Oval, the setting that marked the beginning of the last series between Australia and India in 2018. This encounter, which is seen as a momentous event, coincides with a year marked by global uncertainty due to the pandemic. The presence of the iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees at the northern end of the field provide a sense of continuity, an essential element in Test cricket. This will be the backdrop for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in the first day/night Test for India away from home. The series, which has been made possible thanks to the collaboration between the two cricket powers, is a testament to the perseverance and commitment of both nations. Despite the challenges and concerns, the event remains a beacon of hope for fans.

In a year where its leaders have faced battles with state associations, state governments and broadcasters with rights, Cricket Australia has been grateful that India’s administrators and players never raised significant issues about the tour.

Alofoke Deportes

The obstacles for Cricket Australia (CA) focused on securing an entry point for the charter plane carrying the visiting team. Initially, it was planned to land in Perth, but the plan moved to Adelaide and then to Brisbane, before finally being confirmed in Sydney. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would alter the series. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has had to adapt to rock concerts and changes in football matches, but this year he prepared a test track with a Christmas parade as a prelude. “One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to be 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,” he added. Training sessions in the center of the field are shaping up as an invaluable competitive advantage for the Australian players, especially for those who arrived before the team that played against the Indians on a different surface at the SCG.

The Australian captain, Tim Paine, highlighted the importance of these sessions: “We have been lucky enough to arrive early in Adelaide. We trained three nights in a row in the middle of the field at Adelaide Oval, which I think will be a great advantage for our team.” Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial for the result in Adelaide. Furthermore, this will be Kohli’s only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three matches. The Australians, with their attack led by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, have succeeded in dismissing Kohli early in the last two series. Overcoming this phase will be key to India’s performance. Paine acknowledged Kohli’s skill: “Virat is certainly one of the best players, if not the best player in the world. We have plans that have worked well against him in the past; hopefully they will work early enough this week.” Amid tactical discussions and plans for the series, Paine, who values his test career more than most, shows no signs of “bubble fatigue”. “I love it, to be honest,” Paine said. “I don’t think this hub has been as strict as maybe the IPL or the one in England. I sleep very well at night; my kids are at home, which is good in a way, but I certainly miss them. But I sleep better here and feel fresher here than at home, so life in the hub might make me play longer, if anything.” The events of 2020 have ensured that this latest chapter is as vivid as any sporting competition, at a time when many around the world remain confined by a pandemic.