The cameras were in place, microphones held upright, and then some banter ensued as cricket correspondents waited for Australia coach Justin Langer at the Adelaide airport. A Tuesday afternoon waned, and a few passengers were wondering what the fuss was all about.
In good spirits
The host squad was flying out to Perth, the venue of the second Test from Friday. Trailing 0-1 after a mentally draining loss to India in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval, the Australian cricketers were still full of spirit.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins warmly greeted a junior player.
Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja, sporting shades, did a mock run when a television-crew tailed him.
He then stopped mid-sprint, laughed, spoke to the cameraman and strode towards the security-check zone.
Just as a few sportswriters got a bit edgy about their respective flights, Langer walked in with his trademark winnowing steps.
He smiled, cast a glance at his wards busy with their flight formalities and then faced the assembled media.
It was a gentle conversation, not the bruising inquisition that usually follows a defeat.
Langer graciously lauded Virat Kohli’s men: “If we had been two or three down overnight it might have been different. India outplayed us, there was no point in the game where I felt we were on top.
“To their great credit they were more patient than us, they bowled really well. We got close, which shows great fighting spirit.”
Turgid pitch
The match proved to be a steady grind of less than three runs per over.
The former Australia opener felt the slow progress was a direct reflection of the turgid pitch.
“The wicket was really tough to score on. Kohli, the best player in the world, got 30 off 120 balls (Kohli scored 34 off 104 deliveries), that tells you something. It is just how the game went.
“India bowled well, we bowled equally well in the first innings and it was hard to bat on with the slow outfield,” Langer said.
Looking ahead at the second Test at Perth’s new Optus Stadium, Langer hoped the pitch would aid fast bowlers, much like the city’s other traditional venue WACA.
“It's going to be hot on Friday. It will be an important toss, but hopefully on a wicket conducive to a bit of swing and seam, the bowlers will get the job done.
“Again it's unprecedented, the first Test match on a drop-in wicket in Perth at the new stadium.
“Time will tell what the wicket brings. Pace and bounce. If we can get that, it would be great,” he said.
Paine is fine
What about skipper Tim Paine’s injured right index finger? Langer grinned: “Painey is the toughest pretty boy I have ever met. Even if it was snapped in about four places he would still be right. He is ready to go.”
And then it was time for the flight. The cricket caravan rolls on.
