Australia and India Face Off in Adelaide: A Test Match with History Amidst the Pandemic
Elite cricket returns to Adelaide Oval, an iconic venue where Australia and India began their previous encounter in 2018. This match, marked by the uncertainty of Covid-19, promises to be more than just a game; it is a testament to the perseverance of the sport. The presence of the old scoreboard and the imposing Moreton Bay trees at the northern end of the field provide a sense of continuity, an essential element in Test cricket. This backdrop will witness the first day/night Test for India away from home, with the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli. This clash, the number 12 between both nations since 1999, highlights the financial strength driving these encounters. However, the realization of this series was uncertain due to the challenges presented by the pandemic. In the difficult months of March, April and May, when world sport stopped, the possibility of the series not happening was real. Despite the goodwill between Cricket Australia and the BCCI, the obstacles were significant. The problems for Cricket Australia (CA) centered on finding an entry point for the visiting team’s charter plane. Initial plans to land in Perth were moved to Adelaide, then to Brisbane, before finally falling on Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government, and the SCG Trust. Negotiations with the Queensland government were tense and ultimately unsuccessful. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatened to disrupt the series. It was considered to start the Test with a day/night match at the MCG and then play a more traditional match starting December 26. Damian Hough, the curator of the Adelaide Oval, had to adapt to this situation. “One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to be more in the present,” Hough said. “We had to live in the moment a little more.” Hough added that they are fortunate to be able to give Australia training in the center of the field, which could be a competitive advantage.
Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial. This will be Kohli’s only Test in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three matches. Australians, with players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, have succeeded in stopping Kohli early in the last two series. “Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, isn’t it? But that’s why they are the best, they can adapt, they can change with what you are doing, and Virat is undoubtedly one of the best players, if not the best player in the world,” Paine said. Paine, who considered retiring in 2017, shows no signs of fatigue from the “bubble”. “I love it, to be honest. I don’t think this bubble has been as strict as the IPL or England’s. 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 bubble could make me play longer, if anything.” The series between Australia and India promises to be a memorable sporting event, especially in a year marked by the pandemic.“We’ve been very lucky to come to Adelaide early. We trained three nights in a row in the middle of the pitch at the Adelaide Oval, which I think will be a big advantage for our team. It’s the most difficult thing about the Test with the pink ball; you usually get it once a year. Sometimes with a Shield match, this time without one. So you’re practically learning on the go, in real time, when you go out on the field”.
Tim Paine
