Even at less than half capacity, Adelaide cricket tragics are so happy to be at the Oval
The colour of the India Australia test match was dulled, but fans were just grateful to be back at Adelaide Oval.
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You could almost feel a collective sigh when the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series began on Thursday afternoon – it was another 2020 event that may not have happened.
The opening-delivery loosener from Mitchell Starc was uneventfully fended to gully by Prithvi Shaw but came with the welcome and familiar thwack of leather on well-sprung willow.
Despite the Adelaide Oval crowd being COVID-19-capped at 21,000, in that 2.30pm moment, the joy of sport reminded us that there is a future. Temporarily gone is the carnival atmosphere of the usual Indian Test match. Their cheer squad’s drums were silenced by one COVID-19 ban and boisterous group chanting was culled by a well-policed 1.5m social-distancing rule.
But India’s passionate cricket fans are characteristically an optimistic bunch, and happy just to be anywhere under any circumstances where their beloved team is playing.
“We are so happy to be here and we have the 11 players who we know can beat Australia in Australia so we are very confident we can win this series,’’ Fans India spokesman Manjul Sharma said.
The quiet crowd and sub-20C temperatures were not the only differences to the Oval most know and love.
Wandering was discouraged by authorities, other than for toilet breaks and pit stops.
But heartily embraced by fans were new SACA rules giving public access to members’ areas and a lifting of strict members’ areas dress codes to avoid queues at checkpoints.
If SACA wanted to advertise this year’s relaxed dress standards then the sight of Adelaide fancy dress icon Johnny Haysman shimmying through the members’ stand in white Crocs over crimson socks could not have been bettered.
“I would be about the happiest person not to have the dress code,’’ he said.
Also popular were fake tans, thighs, decolletage and even toes normally banned from protruding from open shoes – all on full display.
SACA members Sharon Callus and Preeya Goel welcomed the dress code relaxation as a way to encourage greater SACA membership.
“It is nice that a lot more people can come to the members’ areas, which is normally quite restrictive,’’ Ms Goel said.
Day 4 tickets are still available, with day 5 yet to be determined.
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