Australia and India clash in Adelaide: A duel with history and challenges
In a year marked by the uncertainty of Covid-19, Australia and India prepare for a new confrontation at the Adelaide Oval, a venue that hosted their last encounter in 2018. The presence of the iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees at the north end of the field evokes 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 cricket’s most powerful nations promises to be memorable, especially considering the challenges they faced to make the series happen. From March to May, the sports world was paralyzed, and the possibility of the series not taking place was a constant concern. Despite the obstacles, both Cricket Australia (CA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) worked to secure the series. CA thanked the collaboration of Indian administrators and players, although logistical challenges arose, such as finding a point of entry for the visiting team’s charter plane. The initial landing plan in Perth was modified, considering options in Adelaide and Brisbane, before finally settling on Sydney, Canberra and the New South Wales government. Uncertainty persisted even after India’s arrival, with a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatening to disrupt the schedule. Faced with this situation, the curator of Adelaide Oval, Damian Hough, remained firm. “One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to live more in the present,” Hough commented, highlighting the need to adapt to changing circumstances.The sessions in the center of the field are shaping up as a competitive advantage for the Australian team, which arrived earlier than the players who participated in the match against India A at the SCG. Tim Paine highlighted the importance of this preparation, especially for the game with the pink ball. 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, which adds an element of uniqueness before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three matches. The Australians, with their fearsome attack led by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, will seek to repeat the success of previous series by trying to dismiss Kohli early. Paine acknowledged Kohli’s quality, but is confident in his team’s strategy. “We have plans that have worked well against him in the past; hopefully they work early enough this week, but if not, we have a couple of different plans,” he stated. Amidst the tactical discussions and preparations for the series, Paine expressed his enthusiasm and gratitude for his cricket career. “I love it, to be honest,” Paine said. “I don’t think this hub has been as strict as the IPL or England’s. I’m sleeping very well at night; my kids 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 hub might make me play longer, if anything.”“We are fortunate to be able to give Australia training in the center of the field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so that was our only preparation, and it seemed to go very well, the feedback was positive. We have the recipe that seems to work… we simply stick to the game plan.”
Damian Hough
