Australia vs India: Cricket Resurfaces in Adelaide After a Chaotic Year

Australia and India Face Off in Adelaide: A Classic in Uncertain Times

Elite cricket returns to Adelaide, where Australia and India prepare to revive their intense rivalry. This encounter, which marks the beginning of a test series, has a special significance, as it takes place in the midst of a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Adelaide Oval, with its iconic scoreboard and Moreton Bay fig trees, offers a familiar and comforting setting. However, this inaugural match will be India’s first day/night test away from home, adding an element of novelty. This clash between two cricket powerhouses, who have forged a constant relationship for two decades, is more valuable than ever. The series itself is a triumph, considering the challenges both nations faced. Despite the financial forces driving this rivalry, uncertainty about the series’ realization was palpable during the first months of the year. Planning was hampered by the pandemic, and the logistics for hosting the matches presented significant challenges. Cricket Australia (CA) thanked the collaboration of the Indian administrators and players, who facilitated the process. However, CA executives, Nick Hockley and Earl Eddings, faced obstacles in finding an entry point for the visiting team. Initial plans changed, and the series moved to different cities before finally settling in Sydney. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatened to disrupt the schedule. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has had to adapt to unusual circumstances, including preparing a pitch for a test match in the midst of an atypical season.

“One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to live 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.”

Damian Hough

Practice sessions in the center of the Adelaide Oval field offer a competitive advantage for Australian players, especially those who arrived before the rest of the team. Tim Paine, captain of Australia, highlighted the importance of these sessions to adapt to the match conditions with the pink ball. Virat Kohli’s adaptation, who will only play one test match in the series, will be crucial to the outcome. Ajinkya Rahane will take over the captaincy in the following matches. Australian bowlers, such as Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, will seek to limit Kohli’s impact. However, Paine recognizes Kohli’s ability to adapt and perform at the highest level.

“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 certainly one of the best players, if not the best player in the world,” Paine said.

Tim Paine

Paine, who considered retiring from cricket in 2017, values his career more than ever. Despite the challenges of “bubble life”, he feels renewed and with more energy. In a year marked by the pandemic, this encounter between Australia and India promises to be an unforgettable sporting event.