Australia vs India: Cricket revives in Adelaide after a chaotic year

Australia and India Face Off in Adelaide: A Classic in Times of Pandemic

After a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare to face each other on the same stage where their previous encounter began in 2018: the Adelaide Oval. The sight of the old scoreboard and the imposing Moreton Bay trees at the north end of the field evoke the intrinsic continuity of test match cricket, serving as an emblematic backdrop for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in the first day/night Test for India away from home. This series, which was awaited with uncertainty, is a testament to the financial power driving these two cricket nations, who have played no less than 12 test series since 1999, the same number of encounters that Australia has had against England in the Ashes series during the same period. The obstacles to holding the event were significant, from the challenges of finding a port of entry for the chartered plane carrying the Indian team to negotiations with the Queensland government. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatened to disrupt the series. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough, who has dealt with rock concerts and football scheduling changes, has prepared a test match pitch with a Christmas parade as a prelude this year. “One thing we’ve learned with Covid is to be more in the present,” Hough commented. “We like to plan months in advance. We still had plans, but we had to live in the moment a little more.”

“We are very happy to be able to give Australia training in the center of the court on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so that was our only preparation, and it seemed to go very well, the comments were positive. We have the recipe that seems to work… we are simply sticking to the game plan”.

Damian Hough, Adelaide Oval Curator

The training sessions in the center of the court are shaping up as an invaluable competitive advantage for the Australians, especially for those who arrived earlier than those who played for Australia A against the Indians on a different surface at the SCG, something that Paine did not hesitate to highlight.

Title of the publication: It is increasingly hopeful that Virat Kohli and Tim Paine will face each other later this year. Paine emphasized the importance of training in the center of the Adelaide Oval pitch, recognizing that it is a crucial aspect for the game with the pink ball, where adaptation is key. Kohli’s absence in the practice match at the SCG adds more pressure, especially considering that this is his only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the captaincy for the remaining three matches. The Australians, with their fearsome attack led by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, have had success in the past in getting Kohli out early in previous series. Paine acknowledges Kohli’s ability to adapt and cause damage, despite the Australians’ plans. “There are plans in place that have worked well against him in the past; hopefully they work early enough this week, but if not, we have a couple of different plans,” Paine added. Amid Covid protocols, border restrictions and financial shocks, tactical discussions and plans for the test match offer a respite. Paine, who values his test career more than most, doesn’t feel “bubble fatigue” at the moment. “I love it, to be honest,” Paine said. “I don’t think this concentration center has been as strict as the IPL or England’s.” The events of 2020 have ensured that this latest chapter is as vivid as any sporting competition, at a time when many around the world remain confined by the pandemic.