Australia vs India: The Test That Resurfaces Amid the Pandemic

Australia and India clash in Adelaide: A duel marked by uncertainty

In a year affected by Covid-19, 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 provide a sense of continuity in this sport, 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 special, highlighting the importance of holding the series. After a year with many doubts about its realization, fans and participants value this match even more. During the difficult months of March, April and May, when sport stopped, the uncertainty about the series was palpable. Despite the goodwill between Cricket Australia and the BCCI, the challenges to carry out the event were significant. The main challenge for CA’s interim chief executive, Nick Hockley, and chairman Earl Eddings, was finding a way in for the charter plane carrying the visiting team. Initial plans to land in Perth were moved to Adelaide, then to Brisbane, before finally being accepted by Sydney, Canberra, the New South Wales government and the SCG Trust. Negotiations with the Queensland government generated great anxiety. Even after the Indians’ arrival, there was a possibility that a Covid outbreak in Adelaide would disrupt the series. The possibility of starting the tournament with a day/night Test at the MCG and then continuing with a more traditional game from December 26 was considered. Damian Hough, the curator of Adelaide Oval, has had to adapt to various situations, from rock concerts to changes in football scheduling. This year, he has prepared a pitch 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 said. “We like to plan months in advance. We still had plans, but we had to live the moment a little more.”

Damian Hough

Practice sessions in the middle of the field are presented as a competitive advantage for the Australian team, 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.

It is increasingly likely that Virat Kohli and Tim Paine will face each other later this year.Paine commented on the advantage of training in the center of the Adelaide Oval, highlighting the difficulty of adapting to the conditions of a match with the pink ball under the lights, something that is done once a year. Kohli’s adaptation, who did not participate in the practice match at the SCG, will be crucial for the result in Adelaide. This match is Kohli’s only Test in the series, which increases its importance before Ajinkya Rahane takes over the leadership for 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. Paine acknowledges that the best players can adapt and change their strategies, and that Kohli is one of the best in the world. Paine also highlighted the importance of having different options in the attack, including Lyon and Green, to counter Kohli. Instead of focusing on Covid protocols and border restrictions, tactical discussions and plans for the series are a breath of fresh air. Paine, who values his cricket career, shows no signs of fatigue from the “bubbles” and enjoys the current situation. Paine stated that the current environment allows him to sleep better and feel fresher than at home, which could prolong his career. While there have been moments of fatigue due to the frequency of encounters between India and Australia, the events of 2020 ensure that this new chapter will be as vibrant as any sporting competition, at a time when many in the world remain confined by the pandemic.