Australia and India Clash in Adelaide in a Historic Test Match
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 encounter began in 2018. This event marks the beginning of a series that promises to be memorable, especially as it is the first day/night Test Match for India away from home. The iconic scoreboard and Moreton Bay trees at the northern end of the field offer a sense of continuity essential to Test Match cricket, creating a special atmosphere for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli. This encounter between two of the most powerful cricket nations has special value, given the current context. The series is an achievement in itself, considering the difficulties that arose throughout the year. During the months of March, April and May, when the sport practically stopped, the possibility of the series not taking place was considered. Despite the obstacles, the series is maintained thanks to the goodwill between Cricket Australia and the BCCI. The challenges for Cricket Australia executives, Nick Hockley and Earl Eddings, included finding an entry point for the charter plane carrying the Indian team. Initially, Perth was considered, but Sydney, Canberra and the New South Wales government were ultimately chosen. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would disrupt the series. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough prepared for a Test Match with unusual preparation.The preparation in the center of the field is shaping up to be a competitive advantage for the Australian players. The team has had crucial training sessions in the center of the field, which will give them a significant advantage. Kohli’s adjustment, who did not play in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial to the result in Adelaide. It will be a unique event, as this is Kohli’s only Test Match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership. Australians, with players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, have had success in the past in dismissing Kohli early in the series. However, Kohli has proven capable of excelling even against the most formidable attacks.“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 in the moment a little more.”
Damian Hough
Tactical discussions and pre-series plans are a respite from Covid protocols, border restrictions, and the financial impacts of the year. Paine, who values his cricket career more than many, shows no signs of fatigue and enjoys the atmosphere. The events of 2020 have ensured that this chapter of cricket is as vivid as any sporting competition, especially for those 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
