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

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 on the same stage where they began their previous encounter in 2018: the Adelaide Oval. The presence of the iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay fig trees at the north end of the field evoke the tradition of Test cricket, serving as a backdrop for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in India’s first day/night Test away from home. This encounter between two of the most powerful cricket nations promises to be unforgettable, surpassing any previous match in the last 20 years. The series itself is a triumph, considering the challenges that arose. Since 1999, Australia and India have contested 12 test series, a number similar to the Ashes series that Australia has played against England in the same period. This year, participants and spectators faced uncertainty about the realization of the series due to the global situation. During the difficult months of March, April and May, when the world of sport stopped, the possibility of canceling the series was considered. More recently, the obstacles focused on the organization of the event, despite the good will between Cricket Australia and the BCCI. In a year in which its leaders faced challenges with state associations, state governments and broadcasters, CA was grateful that India’s administrators and players did not raise significant problems about the tour. The challenges for CA’s interim CEO, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, focused on finding an entry point for the charter plane carrying the visiting team. Initially, it was planned to land in Perth, but the plan moved to Adelaide, then to Brisbane, before finally Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government, and the SCG Trust took the lead. Tensions reached their peak during extensive negotiation with the Queensland government. 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 most of the year, which generated uncertainty about Boxing Day until October. However, the outbreak that forced a brief lockdown in South Australia led to considering the possibility of starting the test series with a day/night match at the MCG and then continuing with a more traditional game from December 26. These variations were on the mind of Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough, who has dealt with rock concerts and changes of football matches in the past. This year, he prepared a test pitch with a Christmas parade instead of Sheffield Shield matches as a prelude.

“One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to be more in the present,” Hough said. “We like to plan months in advance. We still had plans, but we had to live a little more in the moment,” he added. “[A U2 concert last year] was a much bigger challenge than what we’re going through this year. I never thought I’d see a Christmas parade at the Adelaide Oval, so it’s a unique year.”

Damian Hough

Hough also highlighted the advantage of being able to offer Australia training in the midfield during the weekend, which he considered invaluable preparation.

These sessions in the center of the field represent a competitive advantage for the Australian players who arrived before those who played for Australia A against the Indians on a different surface at the SCG, something that Paine did not hesitate to affirm.

It is increasingly likely that Virat Kohli and Tim Paine will face each other later this year.Paine acknowledged the importance of preparation in the center of the field to adapt to the match conditions with the pink ball and under the lights, which are unusual for the team. Kohli’s adjustment, who did not participate in the warm-up match at the SCG, will be crucial for the result in Adelaide. Furthermore, this will be Kohli’s only Test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three matches. With players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, the Australians have achieved success in dismissing Kohli early in the previous two series. However, if Kohli overcomes that phase, he has shown that he can cause damage even to the most formidable attacks.

“Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, don’t they? But that’s why they’re the best, they can adapt, they can change with what you’re doing, and Virat is undoubtedly one of the best players, if not the best player in the world,” Paine said. “There will be a time in this, well, there’s really only one test, so let’s hope not, but when you play against players as good as Virat, sometimes they get away from you, that’s the game.”

Tim Paine

Paine highlighted the plans that have worked against Kohli in the past and the variety in the Australian attack, including different angles, speeds and the spin of Nathan Lyon, along with Marnus. Instead of the concerns about Covid protocols, border restrictions and the financial impacts of the year, the tactical discussions and plans for the test series offer a respite. Paine, who values his test career more than most, after considering retiring from cricket in 2017, does not feel “bubble fatigue”. Paine expressed his enjoyment of the current situation, mentioning that the bubble is not as strict as in the IPL or in England. Furthermore, he highlighted that he sleeps better and feels fresher in the bubble, which could extend his time in the sport. The events of 2020 have ensured that this new chapter is as exciting as any sporting competition, especially at a time when so many people around the world remain confined due to the pandemic.