Widely regarded as one of the most picturesque sporting arenas in the world, Adelaide Oval is pretty well used to creating history, particularly for the game of cricket. So it was perhaps the best venue to host India’s first-ever day and night test match overseas.
Test match cricket since inception traditionally has always been a day affair until recently when world cricket authorities while searching for a solution for the falling viewership for the test matches started tossing with the idea of hosting the five-day game from mid-afternoon until late evening, hoping it will draw bigger crowds as it does successfully for the ODIs and T20s. This idea was championed by Cricket Australia as a result of which cricket fans witnessed the maiden day-night test match played between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in 2015 using a pink ball instead of the traditional red.
Since then it has become a part of the Australian summer of cricket schedule. However, while touring down under in 2018 India didn’t play with the pink ball citing lack of experience with it.
Things have changed now. After playing with Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last year, India now agreed to take on the Aussies at the Adelaide Oval while touring Australia this summer again.
So history was created last Thursday 17 December when amidst loud chants and roars Virat Kohli and his men entered this historic ground to face the Aussie squad led by Tim Paine. I was lucky enough to be as one of 17000 odd spectators to witness this historic moment of India’s first overseas pink-ball test.
A world-class venue, Adelaide Oval has hosted cricket since colonial times and its iconic, historic and cultural presence remains today as an attraction just not for sports lovers but extends that to any visitor that steps into this elegant metropolis of 1.3 million people. Surrounded by lush greenery, this picturesque arena along the Torrens River is widely regarded as the most picturesque cricket ring in the world, with St Peter’s Cathedral rising behind an elegant Edwardian scoreboard and Moreton Bay fig trees at the northern end.
Being the home city of cricketing legend Bradman, visiting cricket enthusiasts are always keen to associate themselves with his memoirs and for that, the best option is to browse through the Bradman Collection on display at the Oval in a state of the art, purpose-built museum. His personal items including cricket bats, balls, trophies, and items of clothing displayed alongside several old footages demonstrate his extraordinary batting talent.
With rolling hills to the west and inviting beaches on the east, Adelaide is named by guide books as a must-visit destination in down under. The essence behind this judgment gradually unfolds to visitors when wandering through the grid-patterned city-centre which was developed in 1836 by Colonel William Light, South Australia’s first surveyor-general. He had a simple plan- a “one-square-mile” city hub with lots of green open space. Old-timers say not much has changed since then, other than 21st century attributes like the host of shops, luxury hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars elegantly blending into the colonial cityscape, making Adelaide a pleasure to explore.
A plus of a day and night game is that it provides visitors at least half a day to explore the destination. Taking some recommendation from a hotel staff at the newly opened Oval Hotel almost aligned to the sporting venue and opting for a walking crusade, I strolled along city’s most busy thoroughfare is King William Street where amongst several impressive civic edifices, the Edmund Wright House with its elaborate Renaissance style façade struck me as a star exhibit. This street leads to Victoria Square where the city’s heart beats to the sound of Westminster chimes rung on the hour and quarter-hour by five Loughborough-cast bells in the Post Office clock tower, completed in 1872. The 1856 built Catholic Cathedral of St Francis Xavier is round the corner while the Central Market, a landmark of the city not far from there. In this century-old covered shopping space you will find luscious fresh produces and other food items in a riot of stalls.
The city’s most imposing passage is the tree lined North Terrace, a long heritage streetscape flanking many significant institutions like the Art Gallery of South Australia, South Australian Museum, University of South Australia, Government House and current and old Parliament buildings. Their architectural settings are awe inspiring. While the museums are food for art aficionados, for outdoor lovers the nearby 150 years old Botanic Gardens is an ideal venue.
If shopping in mind, Rundle Mall is the place to go. The pedestrianized zone is packed with all kinds of shopping from mega stores like Myers to hordes of boutique outlets plus fruit and flower stalls, and alfresco cafes, a busker or two, adding music to the street hum and buzz.
When the cityscape becomes monotonous, it’s worth taking a half hour tram ride to visit the seafront suburb of Glenelg. Nestled on the shores of Holdfast Bay, its Adelaide’s most popular beach destination always energetic with locals and visitors enjoying sun, sea and sun.
Cricket alongside curry, commerce and culture plays a major role in influencing the current India-Australia bilateral relationship, the front-page heading on the match day on the national newspaper The Australian stating “Indians our blood brothers, as well as rivals, in testing times” is an evidence of that. Cricket in good times always acted as a major catalyst for growth in travel. While this time, the final match results didn’t favour India, the zeal for cricket in both countries will never diminish. So I hope when this dreadful pandemic passes away, the bat and ball game will once again regain its former drawing status to lure people in both countries to cherish each other’s splendours.
TRAVEL NOTEBOOK
Getting There – During pre covid-time Singapore Airlines connected major Indian cities to Adelaide via Singapore.
Accommodation– No shortage of accommodations to suit style and budget, the newly opened 138 room Oval Hotel located inside the sporting arena is a good choice. Another option is the Crown Plaza in the city centre
Few Recommended Restaurants – All located in the heart of the city offering variety of eating experience
• Bespoke Wine Bar & Restaurant, Oval Hotel offers a menu packed with local flavour and quality wines and a view of the ground
• The Guardsman Adelaide Railway Station to sample local food from the state’s best loved produce regions.
• Peel Street a popular joint for casual dining – Asian, Middle Eastern and Modern Australian.
• Jasmin Indian Restaurant for spicy delicacies
Few Recommended Adelaide City Tours –
• Eco Caddy Tour around central Adelaide precinct
• Private walking tour of the Adelaide Central Market
• Adelaide Oval Tour to learn its history, see behind the scene sites and enjoy Bradman collections.
• Adelaide Oval Roof Climb – an adrenaline pumping experience to capture unparalleled 360 degree views of Adelaide and beyond
More Info – Check www.southaustralia.com
Very nice piece.