Discovering Adelaide Oval’s hallowed grounds for the first time is an unusual experience. An experience I could not explain then. I am now convinced there are spirits behind Adelaide Oval and Test Cricket.
2 decades later I now regard that very first experience as spiritual. I can’t explain it otherwise.
Often described for decades as one of the “most picturesque grounds” in the World, that label says a lot. That however will change.
The recent extensive renovation of the Oval does have an impact despite retaining the view of the Cathedral, the trees and the grassy knoll.
Albeit the new stadium is in itself a work of art and has worn architectural awards. And indeed impressive.
The eye however no longer takes you outside as the inside holds your attention and the open line of sight to the outside has narrowed. Sacrifice and a compromise I suppose.
History
The Oval is now 150 years old, it history beginning in 1871 and in 1884 becoming the 6th venue in the World to host Test Cricket. 137 years of Test Cricket.
It is also one of the true Ovals of the Cricket World.
Set in the revered Adelaide’s Parklands and 500m from the city but separated by the River Torrens I gather its beauty grew as the city and the surrounds developed in the early years.
Picturesque
As a spectator once you see the oval of the past and the surrounding scenery, picturesque would be accurate.
I am told that it is the same for a cricketer on the pitch. And gazing in the middle of a game is an occupational hazard.
Here is a link to Adelaide Oval of old showing the Cathedral end. Same end that got former England Captain Tony Greig in a spot of bother.
The Cathedral, the historic and heritage listed scoreboard, the ancient Moreton Fig trees or the grassy knoll are part of the heritage. The grassy knoll has been claimed by England’s travelling Barmy Army as home for the Ashes. And they are just not enough, though they all important for the final picture.
Newlands in Cape Town with the majestic Table Mountain behind, Himachal Pradesh in India with the spectacular Himalayan backdrop, or Pukekura Park New Zealand with its eye-catching tiered apex grassed gallery, all have a distinctive and remarkable feature. Adelaide Oval does not.
There is no single feature. It’s a sum of all things. But it grabs you once you on the terrace.
It seems more like a number of things from the Parklands settings, green foliage, excellent line of sight from the world renowned manicured grounds to the outside. Like a mosaic all coming together and alive evoking a feeling or a sense. Hence the lean towards spiritual.
The Wicket
The well manicured grounds have been described as a batman’s paradise. Short boundaries for the 4s. Bowlers only getting the break at the very end of the Test. The manicured grounds has always been central to Adelaide Oval.
A known neutral venue that does not favour the host or the visitor.
Ground favourite for the likes of perpetual plunderers like Ponting, Border and Clarke amongst the Australians. Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Brian Lara and Rahul Dravid among the non-Australians.
Virat Kholi has more runs on this Oval than any other including in India. What does that say? I can’t recall another sport where a visitor has consistently done well at an away venue.
You also see the smiles on the faces of Lara and Dravid as they stand at the crease. I suspect they sense the spirits rather than the sledges. I have seen Dravid stand rock solid oblivious to all things around. In a World of his own.
All in the Turf
Les Burdett, Adelaide Oval’s legendary groundsman and curator has often been called upon by the cricket fraternity from around the World. To rescue or rebuild pitches. For friend and foe.
Thats speaks volume about Adelaide Oval as well as for Burdett for their contribution.
Since the renovation, the need to change turf often for other sporting events has made a difference. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon whose home ground is Adelaide Oval has acknowledged the difference.
Fear not, the spirits are alive
The spirits behind Adelaide Oval, decades ago pulled Bradman from Sydney and made Adelaide his home. A move that many wondered.
Those spirits I suspect will continue to deliver spectacular innings and runs for both sides. Pundits and fans know that any match at the Oval can turn either way.
Brian Lara at age 36 and on his last test match at the Adelaide Oval plundered 226 runs, as well as breaking Allan Border’s long held run scoring record.
The year was 2005. He did this facing the most awesome Australian bowling arsenal of its time – McGrath, Warne and Lee. Precision as the word goes, spin like no other and devastating speed.
Did the spirits behind Adelaide Oval lift Lara for all he did for the Oval and Cricket over the years? Spirits that do not forget. That back-foot taking stroke style is a joy to watch. I was there and saw poetry in motion.
11 Australians on the pitch and the 20,000 crowd acted in unison when Lara was done. To celebrate and acknowledge one of the greatest cricketer, his remarkable show that day and his accomplishments over the years.
Never seen McGrath’s face of joy congratulating one of his nemesis before and since. And at the revered grounds of Adelaide Oval. It brought tears to my eye.
India’s 36
The spirits are still in control as far as I can tell.
On 17th December 2020, something unusual occurred.
India registered 36 runs, their lowest in test history and at Adelaide Oval. Totally unexpected and cataclysmic. Kohli and none of their batsmen went beyond 9.
The Cricketing World woke up that day. BCC announced the score twice erroneously for more than an hour before getting it right. I guess no one in the newsroom could believe it.
India and Kohli as a batting team were on the ascendancy for a long time. The collapse was inexplainable.
Were the spirits offended that Kohli was leaving for home prematurely after the first innings although for the right reason? He wanted to be home for the birth of his first child.
Like Lara’s 226 and India’s 36, both occurred at the Adelaide Oval.
Both are occasions that cannot be erased or forgotten. Good or bad it left an indelible mark.
And as in my previous post, the World seems to know more about Adelaide because of Adelaide Oval and its Test Cricket. I always wondered what Adelaide would be without the Oval and Test cricket.
Photo credit: courtesy of Norman Hakenberg