Australia vs India: A Cricket Classic Resurfaces After a Tumultuous Year

Australia and India Face Off in Adelaide: A Classic in Times of Pandemic

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 encounter began in 2018. The iconic scoreboard and the imposing Moreton Bay trees provide a sense of continuity in Test cricket, serving as 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 cricket’s most powerful nations promises to be memorable, especially considering the challenges they faced to make the series happen. Financial pressures and logistical obstacles were present, but determination prevailed. The months of March, April, and May were difficult, with the sports world on pause. Despite the difficulties, the series came to fruition thanks to the efforts of Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The main challenge for CA’s interim CEO, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, was finding an entry point for the charter plane carrying the Indian team. Initially, Perth was considered, then Adelaide, Brisbane, and finally Sydney, Canberra, and the New South Wales government. Even after India’s arrival, 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 a Christmas gala, adapting to the changes of the year.

“One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to live more in the present,” Hough said.

Damian Hough

The training sessions in the center of the field are presented as a competitive advantage for the Australian team, which arrived earlier than those who played for Australia A against the Indians on a different surface at the SCG.

The Australian captain, Tim Paine, highlighted the importance of training in the center of the Adelaide Oval pitch, which he considers a significant advantage for his team. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial for the result in Adelaide. This will be Kohli’s only Test in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership. Australians, with players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, have been successful in dismissing Kohli early in previous series.

“Virat is certainly one of the best players, if not the best player in the world,” Paine affirmed.

Tim Paine

Paine expressed his enthusiasm for tactical discussions and plans for the series, rather than concerns related to Covid protocols and border restrictions. Paine, who values his career in Test cricket, does not feel fatigue from the “bubble” and enjoys the concentration on the game. The frequency of encounters between India and Australia in recent years, along with the events of 2020, ensure that this new chapter is as vibrant as any sporting competition.