Australia and India Face Off in Adelaide: A Classic in Times of Pandemic
In a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare for a new confrontation at the Adelaide Oval, the same venue that hosted their 2018 encounter. The presence of the traditional scoreboard and the iconic Moreton Bay trees evoke the continuity of test cricket, serving as a backdrop for the teams of Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in India’s first day/night Test away from home. This encounter, which marks two decades of almost constant meetings between two of the most powerful cricket nations, holds special significance. The series itself is an achievement, considering the circumstances. Since 1999, Australia and India have played 12 test series, the same number that Australia has played against England in the Ashes series during the same period. This year, the uncertainty about the series taking place was palpable, especially during the months of March, April, and May, when the sports world came to a standstill. Despite the challenges, Cricket Australia (CA) has managed to keep the series going. The obstacles for CA’s interim CEO, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, focused primarily on securing the arrival of the Indian team. Initial plans to land in Perth were moved to Adelaide, then to Brisbane and finally to Sydney, Canberra and the New South Wales government. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatened the series. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough, who has managed rock concerts and sporting events, has prepared a test track with a focus on the present, adapting to changing circumstances.The practice sessions in the center of the field, which were held for the Australian team, are seen as a key competitive advantage, especially for the players who arrived before those who played for Australia A at the SCG. The Australian captain, Tim Paine, highlighted the importance of these practices: “We have been fortunate to arrive early in Adelaide. We trained three nights in a row in the middle of the field at the Adelaide Oval, which I think will be a great advantage for our team.” Kohli’s adaptation, who did not play in the warm-up match at the SCG, will be crucial. This is Kohli’s only Test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the captaincy for the remaining three matches. The Australians, with their potent attack, have been successful in dismissing Kohli early in the last two series. Overcoming this phase will be key. Paine acknowledges Kohli’s skill: “Virat is one of the best players, if not the best player in the world.” The Australian team has plans to counter him, with a diverse attack including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon. Instead of the usual concerns about Covid protocols and border restrictions, tactical discussions and plans for the series offer a respite. Paine, who values his test cricket career, expressed his enthusiasm: “I love it, to be honest.” In a year of challenges, the clash between Australia and India in Adelaide presents itself as a vibrant and significant sporting event, a testament to the resilience of sport in times of pandemic.“We have learned to live more in the present,” Hough said. “We had plans, but we had to live more in the moment.”
Damian Hough
