As anticipation builds for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has weighed in on the highly awaited series, predicting a fiercely competitive encounter between India and Australia. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Star Sports, Cummins expressed his excitement and readiness for the challenge, stating that the odds of winning are evenly split between the two cricketing powerhouses.
“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,” said Cummins, brimming with enthusiasm.
Australia’s recent track record against India has not been favorable, with Cummins pointing out their failures in the last two series played on home soil. “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,” he added optimistically.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a biennial series named after legends Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar, is currently held by India, who have won the last two series both at home and away. Australia’s last triumph in clinching the trophy dates back to the 2014-15 series, making this year’s contest even more crucial for the Aussies as they aim to reclaim the coveted title.
Adding his thoughts on the forthcoming series, Australia’s premier batsman Steve Smith highlighted the formidable challenge posed by the Indian cricket 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,” said Smith.
Smith acknowledged India’s proficiency both on home turf and abroad, noting their resilience and ability to deliver under varying conditions. “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,” Smith added, revealing his eagerness for the tough contest.
The sentiment was echoed by Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who emphasized the significance of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, comparing it to the Ashes in terms of prestige and intensity. “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,” said Starc.
He elaborated on the evolving and intensifying rivalry between the two teams, driven by the consistent high-caliber performances and the numerous encounters across different formats. “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,” Starc added.
The anticipation for the series is palpable not only among the players but also among cricket fans worldwide. The five-Test series commences in Perth on November 22 and will conclude at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3 to 7. The series will include pivotal matches in Adelaide, featuring a pink-ball Test from December 6, at the Gabba in Brisbane from December 14, and the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
As both teams finalize their preparations and strategies, the cricketing world waits with bated breath for what promises to be a thrilling and closely contested Border-Gavaskar Trophy, continuing the legacy of one of the most exciting rivalries in international cricket.