Australia vs India: Cricket Resurfaces in Adelaide After Chaotic Year

Australia and India Clash in Adelaide: An Emblematic Duel in Uncertain Times

In a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare for a new confrontation at the Adelaide Oval, the same venue where their previous series began in 2018. The presence of the iconic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees north of the field evoke the tradition of Test cricket, serving as 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 the most powerful cricket nations promises to be memorable, especially after a year full of uncertainty. The series itself is an achievement, considering the challenges faced by both Cricket Australia and the BCCI. During the difficult months of March, April, and May, when sports came to a near standstill, the possibility of the series not taking place generated concern. The problems focused on how to organize the series, despite the good will existing between the parties involved. The obstacles for Cricket Australia were significant, from finding an entry point for the visiting team’s charter plane to negotiations with the Queensland government. Even after India’s arrival, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatened to disrupt the series. Damian Hough, the curator of Adelaide Oval, has had to adapt to various events, but this year he faced the challenge of preparing the field for a Test match with a Christmas parade as a prelude. “One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to live more in the present,” Hough commented.

“We like to plan months in advance. We still had plans, but we had to live a little more in the moment”.

Damian Hough, curator of the Adelaide Oval

Practice sessions in the center of the field provide a crucial competitive advantage for Australian players, especially those who arrived before those who played for Australia A at the SCG.

It is increasingly likely that Virat Kohli and Tim Paine will face each other later this year.Tim Paine highlighted the importance of these training sessions, acknowledging the difficulty of playing with the pink ball and under the lights. “We are learning on the go, in real time, when we go out on the field,” he stated. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial in Adelaide, especially since this is his only Test of the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three matches. Australians, with players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, have succeeded in dismissing Kohli early in the last two series. However, Paine acknowledges Kohli’s ability to adapt and cause damage. “Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, 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 commented. Paine also expressed his enjoyment of the “bubble” environment, highlighting that it allows him to rest better and feel fresher than at home.