With the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy just around the corner, Australian captain Pat Cummins has declared that the upcoming cricketing contest between India and Australia is a balanced face-off, calling it a 50-50 affair. Both teams are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with players and fans alike eagerly awaiting the competition.
Reflecting on the recent history between the two cricketing giants, Cummins pointed to the fierce competitiveness that has defined their encounters. He referenced the most recent Test clash, the World Test Championship played in neutral conditions, where Australia emerged victorious. “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 in an interview with Star Sports.
The series holds significant importance for the Australian side, especially considering their recent performance against India. The Indian team currently holds the coveted trophy, having won both the last home and away series, with Australia last clinching the trophy in the 2014-15 series. The Australia captain is keen on changing that narrative. “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 with an optimistic note.
Steve Smith, a key player for Australia, shared his enthusiasm and anticipation for the series, highlighting the exceptional cricket played by both teams. Reflecting on the formidable challenge posed by India, he 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 got a terrific side, very well-balanced team, all bases covered.”
Smith acknowledged the tough competition that India presents, both at home and away. “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,” he emphasized.
Mitchell Starc, one of the forefront pace bowlers for Australia, added his perspective, comparing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to the iconic Ashes series. “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 remarked.
Elaborating on the rivalry’s evolution, Starc noted the growth in both the calibre of players and the quality of matches. “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,” he added.
The schedule for this eagerly awaited five-Test series has been set, with the opening match in Perth on November 22. The series will continue with a pink-ball Test in Adelaide starting December 6, followed by matches in Brisbane at the Gabba from December 14, and the traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The series is set to conclude at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3 to January 7.
As both teams prepare for what promises to be an enthralling series filled with intense competition and high-quality cricket, fans around the world are eagerly counting down the days until the first ball is bowled. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is sure to deliver memorable moments and showcase the very best of international cricket.