Australia and India clash in Adelaide in a historic Test Match
After a year marked by the pandemic, Australia and India prepare for a new confrontation at the Adelaide Oval, the same venue where their previous series began in 2018. The familiarity of the scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees at the north end of the field offer a sense of essential continuity in Test cricket, creating a special atmosphere 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 memorable, especially after a year full of uncertainty. The series itself is an achievement, considering the challenges faced by both Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The initial planning for the Indian team’s arrival, which involved landing in Perth, was modified, considering Adelaide and Brisbane before finally securing Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government, and the SCG Trust as the venue. Negotiations with the Queensland government were tense, and the possibility of a Covid-19 outbreak in Adelaide also raised concerns. Despite these challenges, the event is still on. Adelaide Oval’s curator, Damian Hough, has adapted the field, preparing a playing surface for a test match with unusual preparation, including a Christmas parade.Practice sessions in the center of the field have provided a crucial competitive advantage for the Australian team, something Paine highlighted. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be fundamental, especially considering that this is his only test match in the series. The Australian captain, Tim Paine, has expressed his enthusiasm for the match, highlighting the importance of practice sessions in the middle and the need to adapt to the match conditions with the pink ball and under the lights. The challenge for Australia will be to contain Kohli, who has demonstrated his ability to score runs even against the best attacks. Paine recognizes Kohli’s skill and the need to have several game plans to counter him. The anticipation of this confrontation is refreshing, focusing on tactics and strategies instead of Covid-19 protocols and border restrictions. Paine, who values his cricket career, shows no signs of fatigue and enjoys the environment. The series between Australia and India promises to be a vibrant sporting event, especially at a time when many people around the world are still grappling with the pandemic.“One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to be more in the present,” Hough commented. “We had to live in the moment a little more.”
Damian Hough
