Australia and India: An Epic Duel Amidst the Pandemic
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 last encounter in 2018: the Adelaide Oval. This opening match of the series promises to be a memorable event. The presence of the iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees at the northern end of the field evoke the tradition of Test cricket, serving as a backdrop for Tim Paine and Virat Kohli’s teams in the first day/night Test for India away from home. This encounter between two of the strongest cricket nations promises to be more special than any other in the last 20 years. Since 1999, Australia and India have contested 12 test series, a number comparable to Australia’s Ashes series against England in the same period. However, the current context adds an extra layer of excitement, considering the uncertainties surrounding the realization of the series. In the difficult months of March, April and May, when global sport almost completely stopped, the possibility of the series not taking place was a real concern. Recently, the challenges focused on overcoming the obstacles to organize the matches, despite the good will existing between Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Cricket Australia (CA) thanked India’s administrators and players for not raising major issues during the tour. The main challenges for CA’s interim CEO, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, were finding an entry point for the charter plane carrying the visiting team. Initial plans to land in Perth were modified, considering Adelaide and then Brisbane, before finally Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government and the SCG Trust took the lead. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would alter the series. The Adelaide Oval was scheduled to host at least one test, and even two, due to the prolonged lockdown in Melbourne. However, an outbreak in South Australia forced contingency measures to be implemented, considering starting the test series with a day/night test at the MCG and then continuing with a more traditional game starting December 26th. Damian Hough, the curator of the Adelaide Oval, faced the preparation of a test pitch with a Christmas parade instead of the Sheffield Shield games as a prelude. “One thing we have learned with Covid is to live more in the present,” said Hough. “We like to plan months in advance. We still had plans, but we had to live 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
The Australian team took the opportunity to train in the center of the field during Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which gave them an invaluable competitive advantage. “We have been very lucky to arrive early in Adelaide,” Paine commented. “We trained three nights in a row in the center of the field at the Adelaide Oval, which I think will be a great advantage for our team”.
Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial for the result in Adelaide. This will be Kohli’s only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three matches. The Australians, with players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, have been successful in dismissing Kohli early in the last two series. However, Kohli has shown that he can be dangerous for any attack. Paine highlighted the importance of having effective plans against Kohli, recognizing his ability to adapt and change his game. “We have plans in place that have worked well against him in the past,” Paine stated. “We hope they work early this week, but if not, we have a couple of different plans. The good thing about our attack is that they are all different.” Tactical discussions and game plans on the eve of the test series offer a respite from Covid protocols, border restrictions and the financial impacts of the year. Paine, who values his test career more than most, does not feel “bubble fatigue”.The events of 2020 ensure that this new chapter is as vivid as any sporting competition, especially when many around the world remain confined by the pandemic.“Absolutely not. I love it, to be honest,” Paine said. “I don’t think this hub has been as strict as the IPL or the one in England. I sleep very well at night; my children are at home, which is good in a way, but I miss them. But I sleep better here and feel fresher here than at home, so life in the hub could make me play longer, if anything.”
Tim Paine
