Australia and India: An Epic Duel in Times of Uncertainty
In a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare to face each other at the Adelaide Oval, the same venue where their previous series began in 2018. This encounter, which promises to be unforgettable, marks the beginning of a new battle in the world of cricket. The presence of the old scoreboard and the iconic Moreton Bay trees at the northern end of the field provide a sense of continuity, an essential element in Test cricket. This will be the backdrop for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in the first day/night Test for the Indian team away from home. This clash between two of cricket’s most powerful nations holds special value, especially after a year of uncertainty. Since 1999, Australia and India have contested 12 test series, the same number that Australia has played against England in the Ashes series during the same period. However, this year, the realization of this series was uncertain due to the complications generated by the pandemic. During the difficult months of March, April and May, when the sports world almost completely stopped, the possibility that the series would not take place was a constant concern. Recently, the obstacles to the organization of the series focused on logistics, despite the good will existing between Cricket Australia and the BCCI. CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley and chairman Earl Eddings faced challenges in finding an entry point for the charter plane carrying the visiting team. Initial plans to land in Perth were moved to Adelaide and then to Brisbane, before Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government and the SCG Trust finally took the lead. Negotiations with the Queensland government were particularly tense. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would disrupt the series. For a long time, the Adelaide Oval was going to host at least one and possibly two test matches, given the prolonged quarantine Melbourne faced for much of the year. The Adelaide Oval curator, Damian Hough, has had to adapt to changing circumstances. Hough commented: “One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to live more in the present. We had plans, but we had to live in the moment a bit more.” Training sessions in the center of the field are a competitive advantage for the Australians. Captain Tim Paine highlighted the importance of these sessions: “We have been very lucky to arrive early in Adelaide. We trained three nights in a row in the center of the Adelaide Oval field, which I think will be a great advantage for our team.”Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the warm-up 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 in the remaining three matches.Paine appreciates his Test career more than most, after being on the verge of retiring from cricket altogether in 2017. When asked if these considerations could shorten his remaining time at the top of the game, Paine replied: “Absolutely not. I love it, to be honest.” While in recent years there has been some fatigue due to the frequency of encounters between India and Australia, the events of 2020 have ensured that this latest chapter is as vivid as any sporting competition, especially when many around the world remain confined by the pandemic.“Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, right?, 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
