Australia vs India: Cricket match in Adelaide, a respite after the chaos of 2020

Australia and India: Duel at Adelaide Oval

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 majestic Adelaide Oval. The iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees at the north end of the field provide a sense of continuity, an essential element in test cricket, which will serve as the backdrop for the teams of Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in India’s first day/night Test away from home. This series, which marks the beginning of a season of almost constant contact between both nations for two decades, promises to be a transcendental event. The mere possibility of it taking place is already a reason for celebration, considering the uncertainties that arose during the difficult months of March, April, and May, when the world of sports was paralyzed. Despite the financial forces driving the 12 test matches between Australia and India since 1999, everyone involved and the fans experienced moments of uncertainty about the series taking place. The difficulties in finalizing the series included 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 and then to Brisbane, before Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government and the SCG Trust were finally defined as the venue. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would alter the plans. For a long time, the Adelaide Oval was scheduled to host at least one, and possibly two, test matches. However, the outbreak that forced a brief lockdown in South Australia led to considering the possibility of starting the series with a day/night Test at the MCG and then continuing with a more traditional game from December 26th. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has had to deal with rock concerts and changes in football matches in the past, but this year he has been in charge of preparing a test track with a Christmas parade as a prelude. “One thing we have 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 in the moment a little more,” he added.

“A U2 concert last year was a much bigger challenge than what we are going through this year. I never thought I would see a Christmas parade at the Adelaide Oval, so it’s a unique year.”

Damian Hough, Adelaide Oval curator

The preparation of the Australian team has been crucial. The training sessions in the center of the field are presented as an invaluable competitive advantage for the members of the Australian team 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 hopeful that Virat Kohli and Tim Paine will face each other later this year.Paine highlighted the importance of training in the Adelaide Oval center field to adapt to the match conditions with the pink ball. “We have been fortunate to arrive early in Adelaide,” he said. “We trained three nights in a row in the Adelaide Oval center field, which I think will be a great advantage for our team. It’s the most difficult thing about the test with the pink ball; you usually have 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.” 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 captaincy for the remaining three games. With an arsenal like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, the Australians have succeeded in dismissing Kohli early in each of the last two series. However, Kohli has shown that he can cause damage even to the most formidable attack. Paine acknowledged Kohli’s quality and the need to have different plans to counter him. Paine also expressed his satisfaction with the tactical discussions and plans in the run-up to the series, rather than the Covid protocols, border restrictions and financial impacts of the year. After being close to retiring from cricket in 2017, Paine does not feel “bubble fatigue” and enjoys the experience. The series between Australia and India promises to be a vibrant event, especially at a time when many people around the world remain confined by the pandemic.