As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the thrilling contest between India and Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australian captain Pat Cummins has expressed his view that the series will be a finely balanced affair. Cummins, brimming with anticipation, believes the competition will be as fierce as ever, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown between two cricketing giants.
In an exclusive interview with Star Sports, Cummins reflected on the intense rivalry and competitive nature of past encounters between the two teams. He highlighted the recent World Test Championship final where Australia triumphed over India in neutral conditions. “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 remarked, underscoring the evenly matched capabilities of both sides.
The memories of the last two series in Australia linger, where India emerged victorious, adding fuel to Australia’s desire for redemption. Cummins acknowledged that it’s been a long time since Australia has tasted success in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on home soil, but he remains optimistic. “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,” Cummins added, emphasizing the cyclical nature of their competitive encounters.
India currently holds the prestigious trophy, having clinched victory in the last two home and away series. Australia’s last triumph came during the 2014-15 series, setting the stage for a highly anticipated contest.
Steve Smith, another pivotal figure in the Australian squad, voiced his excitement for the upcoming series. Sharing his thoughts, Smith said, “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, a very well-balanced team, with all bases covered.”
Smith lauded India’s consistent performance both in Australia and on home territory, acknowledging the formidable challenge they pose. “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,” Smith expressed with palpable enthusiasm, likely mirroring the sentiments of fans worldwide.
Adding to the anticipation, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc highlighted the significance of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the realm of international cricket. He drew parallels with the historic Ashes series, noting the growing intensity and prestige surrounding the India-Australia rivalry. Starc stated, “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 went on to highlight the calibre of players and matches that have characterized this fierce rivalry. “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 with 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,” Starc concluded, projecting a series filled with high-quality performances and exhilarating moments.
The upcoming five-Test series promises to be a cricketing spectacle, starting in Perth on November 22 and concluding at the storied Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7. The matches between will see historic venues such as Adelaide, hosting the pink-ball Test from December 6, the Gabba from December 14, and the traditional Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. As the countdown begins, cricket fans worldwide are bracing for what promises to be an enthralling chapter in the storied rivalry between India and Australia.