Australia and India clash in Adelaide: A duel marked by the pandemic
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. The view of the scoreboard and the iconic Moreton Bay trees north of the field evoke the tradition of Test cricket, 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 special, exceeding the expectations of the last 20 years of almost constant contact. The realization of the series is an achievement in itself, considering the circumstances. Influential financial forces have driven India and Australia to contest 12 test series since 1999. This year, uncertainty about the series was palpable, especially in the early months of the pandemic, when sport came to a complete standstill. Cricket Australia (CA) thanked the support of the Indian administrators and players, who did not present significant problems. The challenges for CA’s interim CEO, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, focused on securing the visiting team’s access, with logistical changes that led to the choice of Sydney, Canberra and the government of New South Wales as the final venue. Even with the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide could have disrupted the series. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough prepared for a test match with a festive Christmas atmosphere.Training sessions in the center of the field provide a crucial competitive advantage for Australians, especially for those who arrived before the “Australia A” team. The Australian captain, Tim Paine, highlighted the importance of these training sessions in the middle, especially in adapting to the match conditions with the pink ball and the lights. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not play in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial. Furthermore, this will be Kohli’s only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership for the remaining matches. The Australians, with their potent attack led by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, will seek to control Kohli, who has demonstrated his ability to excel against any attack.“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
Paine, who appreciates his test cricket career, shows no signs of fatigue from the “bubble” and enjoys the experience. The frequency of encounters between India and Australia in recent years, combined with the events of 2020, ensures that this new chapter will be as exciting as any other sporting event.“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
