Australia and India: A Duel in Adelaide in Uncertain Times
In a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare to face each other at the Adelaide Oval, the same venue where their previous encounter began in 2018. The presence of the iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay fig trees at the northern end of the field offer a sense of continuity, a backdrop for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in the first day/night Test for India away from home. This encounter between two of cricket’s most powerful nations promises to be memorable, especially after a year with significant challenges. The financial forces driving India and Australia to play test series, with 12 series since 1999, have ensured this clash, although uncertainty about the series’ realization was palpable in the early months of the year. The series’ planning faced obstacles, from choosing the landing site for the Indian team to negotiations with the authorities. Concern about a Covid outbreak in Adelaide also threatened the series. Damian Hough, the curator of the Adelaide Oval, has had to adapt to changing circumstances, preparing a test pitch with a Christmas parade as preparation. “One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to be more in the present,” said Hough. “We had to live in the moment a little more,” he added.Center-wicket practice sessions are a competitive advantage for Australia, according to Tim Paine. “We’ve been very lucky to get to Adelaide early,” Paine commented. “We trained three nights in a row in the center of the wicket at the Adelaide Oval, which I think will be a big advantage for our team.”
Kohli’s adjustment, who will only play one test match in the series, will be crucial. Ajinkya Rahane will take over the leadership in the remaining three matches. Australians, with players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, have had success in the past in getting Kohli out early. Paine acknowledges Kohli’s skill, but trusts his team’s plans. “There are 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.” Paine, who considers his career more valuable after considering retirement in 2017, doesn’t feel fatigue. “I love it, to be honest,” Paine said. “I’m sleeping better here and I feel fresher here than at home, so life in the bubble could make me play longer.” The frequency of encounters between India and Australia may have caused fatigue, but the events of 2020 ensure that this chapter will be unforgettable.
