In the cricketing world, few rivalries are as fiercely contested as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As anticipation builds for the upcoming series, Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins weighed in on the two giants’ forthcoming clash, predicting it will be a close fight. Speaking to Star Sports, Cummins shared his thoughts on the intense competitiveness and mutual respect that characterize the India-Australia Test series, commonly perceived as a 50-50 battle.
“The most recent Test match was, of course, the World Test Championship in neutral conditions, and we came out on top in that match. It’s always fiercely competitive, and it always feels like it’s 50-50. I’m 10 out of 10 excited for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” Cummins said, his enthusiasm palpable.
Pat Cummins emphasized the historical depth and intensity of this rivalry. It’s a sentiment echoed by his experiences: “The last two series here in Australia, we haven’t been successful, so it’s been a long time. Hopefully, it’s time to make amends. You know, we’ve played them plenty of times where they’ve beaten us, but we’ve also had plenty of wins against them as well, which we’ll draw confidence from.” His words reflect Australia’s determination to break their recent losing streak against India and reclaim the coveted trophy.
Indeed, India currently holds the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won both the 2018-19 series in Australia and the 2020-21 series at home. Australia’s last triumph came in the 2014-15 series, adding an extra layer of motivation for the Aussies to turn the tables in the upcoming contest.
Adding his perspective, Australian cricketer Steve Smith echoed Cummins’s sentiments, highlighting the formidable challenge posed by the Indian team. “It’s going to be a great series. You know, India have been playing outstanding cricket. We’ve been playing really good cricket the last couple of years. You know, we haven’t beaten India in the last two times they’ve come out here.
. Obviously got a terrific side, very well-balanced team, all bases covered.”
Smith’s respect for the Indian team’s capabilities is evident. He continued, “So, you know, they’ve played really good cricket out here. They’ve played good cricket when we’ve been over in India as well, where we know they’re very, very difficult to beat. So it’s going to be a big summer. It’s going to be an exciting one. And yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
Another key Australian player, Mitchell Starc, added his voice to the chorus, underscoring the significance of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australian cricket. “For Australian cricket, you’ve got the Ashes and then you’ve got the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in there. I mean there’s a long history in the Ashes but that Border-Gavaskar rivalry, if you like, has just grown from strength to strength over each series and now we see it as a five-Test match series which is fantastic for not only the rivalry but for the series as well.”
Starc elaborated on the evolution and deepening of this rivalry over time. “Whether it’s the calibre of player, the calibre of matches that we see as fans and as cricketers just continues to grow strength on strength each series and now India obviously winning a number of series in a row, it’s created even a bigger rivalry between the two countries. I mean both teams are well known to one another, we play each other very often across the formats so I’m sure it’ll be another exciting series but one I think that both experienced sides will showcase some fantastic cricket.”
The five-match Test series promises to be a captivating spectacle, beginning at Perth on November 22 and culminating at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3-7. The itinerary includes a day-night Test in Adelaide from December 6, a match at Brisbane’s Gabba starting December 14, and the traditional Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the first ball of the series, the mutual respect and high stakes intrinsic to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy ensure it will be yet another chapter of enthralling cricket between two of the sport’s heavyweights. The excitement and anticipation from both camps point towards a gripping contest, promising moments of brilliance and intense competition.