As the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia approaches, Australian captain Pat Cummins has weighed in on the potential outcome, suggesting it’s a “50-50” contest. His sentiment resonates with the high stakes and competitive nature that characterizes this historic rivalry.
Speaking to Star Sports, Cummins reflected on Australia’s recent performances against India, particularly noting the significance of the World Test Championship victory 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,” said the Australian captain.
Cummins acknowledged Australia’s struggles in the previous two series on home soil, where India emerged victorious. “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.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, one of the most coveted in cricket, is currently held by India, who have won the last home and away series against Australia. Australia last lifted the trophy during the 2014-15 season.
Australia’s star batsman Steve Smith also shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming series. “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.
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Smith acknowledged the formidable challenge India presents, both in Australia and on their home turf. “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 remarked.
Adding to the build-up, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc emphasized the significance of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, equating it to the Ashes in terms of importance. “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 said.
He elaborated on the growing intensity and quality of the matches between the two cricketing giants. “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,” Starc added.
The upcoming five-Test series promises to be a thrilling contest, commencing in Perth on November 22, before moving to Adelaide for the pink-ball Test from December 6. The series will then shift to Brisbane’s Gabba from December 14, followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and concluding at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3-7.
As players from both sides gear up for what is sure to be a high-octane series, the cricketing world watches with bated breath. The historical significance, combined with the personal and professional stakes for the players, ensures that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains one of the most anticipated events on the cricket calendar. Whether the outcome swings in favor of the hosts or the visitors remains to be seen, but what is certain is that fans can expect a display of cricketing excellence that befits the legacy of this storied rivalry.