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

Australia and India Face Off in Adelaide: A Classic in Uncertain Times

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 historical scoreboard and the imposing Moreton Bay trees provide a sense of continuity, a perfect backdrop for India’s first day/night Test away from home. This encounter between two cricket powerhouses promises to be even more special than the previous ones, especially considering the challenges they faced to make the series happen. From March to May, the uncertainty about the future of the sport was palpable, and the obstacles to organizing the series were numerous, despite the goodwill between Cricket Australia and the BCCI. CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley and chairman Earl Eddings had to overcome difficulties, such as finding a port of entry for the charter plane carrying the Indian team. Initial plans to land in Perth were modified, going through Adelaide and Brisbane before finally settling in Sydney. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatened to disrupt the series. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has had to adapt to the circumstances, preparing a pitch for a test match instead of the usual Sheffield Shield matches.

“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 in the moment a little more.”

Damian Hough

Training sessions in the center of the court are shaping up as a competitive advantage for the Australians, especially for those who arrived earlier than those who played for Australia A against the Indians on a different surface at the SCG.

The confrontation between Virat Kohli and Tim Paine is one of the most anticipated.The Australian captain, Tim Paine, highlighted the importance of these training sessions in the center of the pitch, which will give them a crucial advantage in the match with the pink ball. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be a key factor. 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 fearsome bowling attack, have succeeded in dismissing Kohli early in the last two series. Captain Paine acknowledges Kohli’s ability to adapt and cause damage, and assures that they have plans to counter him. Paine, who values his cricket career more than most, does not feel bubble fatigue and enjoys his time on the field. The series between India and Australia, in the midst of the pandemic, promises to be an unforgettable sporting event.