Australia vs India: Cricket Clash Revives in Adelaide After Chaotic Year

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

In a year marked by the Covid-19 crisis, Australia and India prepare for a new confrontation at the Adelaide Oval, the scene of their previous encounter in 2018. The presence of the historical scoreboard and the emblematic Moreton Bay trees at the north end of the field evokes the tradition of 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 even more special than the previous ones, especially considering the challenges they faced to make the series happen. From March to May, amidst the global sports suspension, uncertainty about the series’ realization was palpable. Cricket Australia (CA) thanked the collaboration of the administrators and players from India, who did not present major inconveniences. The challenges for CA’s interim CEO, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, focused on finding an entry point for the visiting team’s charter plane. Initially, Perth was considered as a destination, but Adelaide was finally chosen, then Brisbane and, finally, Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government and the SCG Trust. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would alter the series. Adelaide Oval, initially scheduled to host at least one or two test matches, had to consider alternative scenarios, including a day/night match at the MCG and a traditional game starting on December 26th. Damian Hough, curator of the Adelaide Oval, has had to adapt to various events, from rock concerts to changes in football matches. This year, he focused on preparing a pitch for a test match, with a Christmas parade as a prelude, instead of the Sheffield Shield games. “One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to live more in the present,” Hough commented.

“We like to plan months in advance. We still had plans, but we had to live a little more in the moment,” Hough said.

Damian Hough, curator of Adelaide Oval

Practice sessions in the center of the field are presented as a competitive advantage for the Australian players, who arrived earlier than those who played for Australia A against India on another surface at the SCG, according to Paine. Kohli’s adjustment, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial to the result in Adelaide. Also added is the fact that this will be Kohli’s only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the captaincy in the remaining three games. With players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, the Australians have succeeded in dismissing Kohli early in the last two series. However, Kohli has shown that he can be dangerous even for the most prominent attacks. Paine acknowledged Kohli’s ability to adapt and change the game. “We have plans that have worked well against him in the past; hopefully they work early enough this week, but if not, we have a couple of different plans. The good thing about our attack is that they are all different, we also have Nathan Lyon and now we add Greeny, we have different angles, different speeds and obviously Nathan’s spin and also Marnus, so we have many different options to throw at him if he managed to get in and settle.” Paine, who values his test cricket career, shows no signs of “bubble fatigue”.

“Absolutely not. I love it, to be honest,” Paine said. “I don’t think this hub has been as strict as the IPL or the one in England. I sleep very well at night; my children 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.”

Tim Paine

The events of 2020 have ensured that this new chapter is as vibrant as any sporting competition, at a time when many around the world remain confined by the pandemic.