As the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy looms on the horizon, Australian captain Pat Cummins has weighed in, predicting a fiercely competitive series between India and Australia. Cummins, along with stalwart Steve Smith, has expressed his enthusiasm for what is poised to be an electrifying cricket showdown.
In an interview with Star Sports, Cummins shared his excitement, saying, “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.” His comments reflect a balanced view of the matchup, acknowledging the competitive nature of the two teams historically.
Australia’s captain further highlighted the significance of the upcoming series, noting, “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.” This sentiment underscores the determination of the Australian side to turn the tables on their past performances and reclaim dominance.
India currently hold the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having emerged victorious in the last home and away series. Australia has not laid hands on the trophy since the 2014-15 series, making this upcoming contest all the more crucial for them.
Adding his perspective, veteran batsman Steve Smith emphasized the quality of cricket played by both sides. Smith stated, “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, they’ve got a terrific side, very well-balanced team, all bases covered.”
Smith 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.” His remarks underline the high expectations and the formidable challenge both teams represent to each other.
Meanwhile, Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc also drew parallels between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Ashes, highlighting the growing prestige of the former. “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 noted.
He further elaborated, “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 excitement is palpable as the cricketing world gears up for this high-stakes series. The five-Test series is set to kick off in Perth on November 22 and will conclude at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to January 7. In between, matches will be held in Adelaide (featuring a pink-ball Test from December 6), Brisbane (at the Gabba from December 14), and the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
With both teams boasting a blend of seasoned veterans and promising young talents, cricket fans can expect scintillating performances, riveting contests, and perhaps a few surprises along the way. The stage is set for another chapter in the storied Border-Gavaskar rivalry, and as Pat Cummins aptly put it, the battle feels evenly poised at 50-50.