Will the first Australia vs India Test be played in Adelaide as planned?

Australia vs India Test: The sudden COVID-19 outbreak in Adelaide had put the first Test between Australia and India under the scanner.

If the already existing bio-bubble and the mandatory quarantine periods were not enough, a sudden COVID-19 outbreak in Adelaide had all but put doubts over the first Test between Australia and India scheduled to kick-start the four-match Test series from December 16.

Slated to be India’s second overall and first overseas pink-ball Test match, the match is supposed to be India captain Virat Kohli’s only Test appearance on this tour of Australia.

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As is mostly the case with pink-ball Test matches in Australia, Adelaide Oval had been assigned the opportunity to host India for the first Test. However, a strict six-day lockdown in South Australia had made people think of alternate venues despite Cricket Australia’s assurance regarding conducting the match in Adelaide itself.

Will the first Australia vs India Test be played in Adelaide as planned?

In what has come as a huge development, the first Test between Australia and India is highly likely to be played in Adelaide as planned originally. The same comes on the back of authorities deciding to lift the lockdown in South Australia from tomorrow.

South Australia registering only three COVID-19 cases today leading to the possible ease of restrictions and the prospect of easing border restrictions with Victoria have combined together to make way for Australia hosting India for the first Test at the Adelaide Oval itself.

Adelaide, which had hosted the first-ever pink-ball Test match between Australia and New Zealand in 2015, has so far hosted four out of the seven pink-ball Tests played in Australia.