Australia vs India: Cricket Resurges in Pandemic Times

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 stage where their last encounter began in 2018. The view of the scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees provide a sense of continuity, an iconic backdrop for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in India’s first day/night Test away from home. This encounter between two of the most powerful cricket nations promises to be even more special than their previous clashes, which have become almost constant in the last two decades. The realization of this series is an achievement in itself.

Despite the financial influences that drive India and Australia to play numerous test series since 1999, all participants and spectators experienced moments of uncertainty about the realization of this series. In the toughest months of March, April and May, when sport almost completely stopped, the possibility that the series would not take place was real.

The obstacles to carrying out the series were numerous, with Cricket Australia (CA) facing challenges with state associations, state governments, and broadcasters. Fortunately, the administrators and players of India did not present major inconveniences for the tour. The challenges for CA centered on finding a port of entry for the charter plane carrying the visiting team. Initial plans to land in Perth were moved to Adelaide, then to Brisbane, before Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government, and the SCG Trust were finally decided upon. Negotiations with the Queensland government were tense. Even after the arrival of the Indians, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would disrupt the series. The possibility of Adelaide Oval hosting one or two test matches was considered, given the prolonged quarantine in Melbourne. However, an outbreak forced a brief lockdown in South Australia, leading to consideration of a day/night test match at the MCG and then a more traditional game starting on December 26. Damian Hough, curator of Adelaide Oval, who has organized rock concerts and football events, faced preparing a pitch for a test match, with a Christmas spectacle as a prelude, instead of the 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 a little more in the moment.”

Damian Hough

Practice sessions in the center of the court are shaping up as an invaluable competitive advantage for the members of the Australian team who arrived earlier than those who played for Australia A against the Indians on a different surface at the SCG, something Paine did not hesitate to affirm.

Title of the publication: It is looking increasingly hopeful that Virat Kohli and Tim Paine will go head-to-head later this year Paine emphasized the importance of arriving early in Adelaide to train in the center of the court, which he considers a great advantage for the team. Adapting to the conditions, especially with the pink ball and under the lights, is crucial, and the three nights of practice at the Adelaide Oval have been beneficial for the batsmen and bowlers. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be fundamental to the result in Adelaide. Furthermore, this will be Kohli’s only test match in 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. Overcoming that phase is crucial, as Kohli has proven capable of causing damage even to the most formidable attacks.

“Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, don’t they? But that’s why they are the best, they can adapt, they can change with what you are doing, and Virat is certainly one of the best players, if not the best player in the world”, Paine said.

Tim Paine

Paine also highlighted the importance of having different attacking strategies and the variety offered by his pitchers. Tactical discussions and pre-series plans are a change from Covid protocols, border restrictions and the financial impacts of the year. Paine, who values his test career, shows no signs of “bubble fatigue”.

“Absolutely not. I love it, to be honest,” Paine said. “I don’t think this hub has been as strict as maybe the IPL or the one in England. I sleep really well at night; my kids are at home, which is good in a way, but I certainly miss them. But I sleep better here and feel fresher here than I do at home, so life in the hub might make me play longer, if anything.”

Tim Paine

The series between India and Australia promises to be a memorable sporting event, especially at a time when many in the world remain confined by the pandemic.