Australia and India: An Epic Duel Amid the Pandemic
In a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare to face each other again at the Adelaide Oval, the same venue where their previous encounter began in 2018. The image of the scoreboard and the imposing Moreton Bay trees at the north end 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 series promises to be more special than any other clash between these two cricket powerhouses in the last two decades, especially considering that the event is taking place despite the challenges. Since 1999, Australia and India have contested 12 Test series, a number similar to the Ashes series Australia has played against England in the same period. Amid global uncertainty, the staging of this series has been an achievement in itself. During the critical months of March, April, and May, when the sports world came to a halt, the possibility of the series not taking place was a constant concern. Even more recently, the obstacles to organizing the event were significant, despite the goodwill between Cricket Australia and the BCCI. CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley and chairman Earl Eddings faced logistical challenges, such as finding a point 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 finally took over. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide could have disrupted the series. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has had to adapt to the changes, preparing the pitch for a Test match instead of the Sheffield Shield games.Practice sessions in the center of the field are shaping up as a crucial competitive advantage for the Australian team. Captain Tim Paine has highlighted the importance of these sessions, especially in preparation for the challenge of the pink ball. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be key to the result in Adelaide. The situation is further intensified by the fact that this is Kohli’s only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership in the remaining three games. 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, Kohli has proven capable of causing damage even to the most formidable attack.“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
Paine, who values his test career more than most, shows no signs of “bubble fatigue” and enjoys the challenge. In a year that has tested many, the passion for test cricket remains strong. In summary, the clash between Australia and India in Adelaide promises to be a memorable sporting event, especially in a global context marked by the pandemic.“Everyone has big plans to get the best players out, don’t they? 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
