Australia vs India: Cricket Revives in Adelaide After Chaotic Year

Australia and India: A Cricket Classic in Uncertain Times

After a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia and India prepare to face each other on the same stage where they began their previous encounter in 2018: the Adelaide Oval. The view of the traditional scoreboard and the Moreton Bay trees at the north end of the field offer a sense of continuity, a hallmark of Test cricket. This will be the backdrop for the teams led by Tim Paine and Virat Kohli in the first day/night Test for India away from home. This clash between two of the most powerful cricket nations promises to be memorable, exceeding the expectations of previous encounters. The realization of this series is a triumph in itself, considering the challenges faced this year. From March to May, the sports world was on pause, raising doubts about the viability of the series. The difficulties in carrying out the event, despite the good will between the parties involved, were considerable. The Australian team, led by Nick Hockley and Earl Eddings, faced logistical challenges, including finding an entry point for the visiting team’s charter plane. Initial plans to land in Perth were modified, moving to Adelaide and then to Brisbane, before finally being confirmed in Sydney. Even after the arrival of the Indians, a Covid outbreak in Adelaide threatened the series. Uncertainty about Boxing Day, which was maintained until October due to restrictions in Melbourne, raised concerns. Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough faced preparing the pitch for a test match with a Christmas event as a prelude.

“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 in the moment a little more.”
Damian Hough

Australia’s competitive advantage, which was able to train in the center of the field for several days, is considered crucial. Captain Tim Paine highlighted the importance of this preparation, especially to adapt to the match conditions with the pink ball and the lights. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match in Sydney, will be crucial. This will be Kohli’s only test match in the series, before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership. Australians, with players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, have been successful in limiting Kohli in previous series. Paine recognizes Kohli’s ability to adapt and the challenge he presents.

“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

Paine and his team have prepared different strategies to face Kohli. The atmosphere in the team is positive, with a focus on strategy and the game, rather than the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Paine, who was close to retiring in 2017, values his test career and does not feel fatigue from the “bubble”.

“Absolutely not. I love it, to be honest,” Paine said. “I don’t think this hub has been as strict as perhaps the IPL or the one in England. I sleep very 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 at home, so life in the bubble might make me play longer, if anything.”
Tim Paine

Despite the frequency of encounters between India and Australia, the events of 2020 have ensured that this new chapter is unforgettable, at a time when many in the world remain confined by the pandemic.