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

Australia and India: Epic Duel at Adelaide Oval

In a year marked by the uncertainty of Covid-19, Australia and India prepare to face each other at the Adelaide Oval, the scene that marked the beginning of their previous encounter in 2018. The presence of the iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees provide a sense of continuity, a backdrop for India’s first day/night Test away from home, with captains Tim Paine and Virat Kohli leading their teams. This clash between two of the most powerful cricket nations promises to be memorable, especially considering the challenges they faced to make the series happen. From March to May, the absence of sporting events raised doubts about the possibility of this encounter. Despite the obstacles, the series finally came to fruition thanks to the goodwill between Cricket Australia and the BCCI. One of the biggest challenges for Cricket Australia was finding an entry point for the charter plane carrying the Indian team. After considering Perth and Brisbane, Sydney was finally chosen, thanks to the support of the New South Wales government and the SCG Trust. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide could have changed the course of the series. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has had to adapt to the circumstances, preparing a pitch for a test match instead of the usual Sheffield Shield games.

“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 the moment a little more.”

Damian Hough

Training sessions in the center of the court are shaping up as a competitive advantage for the Australian team, according to captain Tim Paine. The adaptation of Kohli, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial.

Practice match at the SCG

The Adelaide encounter will be even more significant, as Kohli will only play one test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three games. The Australians, with their fearsome attack led by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, have succeeded in dismissing Kohli early in the last two series. Paine acknowledges Kohli’s ability to adapt and cause damage.

“Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, right? 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 also expressed his satisfaction with life in the “bubble”, stating that it allows him to rest better and feel fresher. In a year marked by the pandemic, this clash between Australia and India promises to be a vibrant and exciting sporting event.