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December 22, 2024
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The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a prestigious Test cricket series between India and Australia, offers a rich history of competition. Here’s a comparison between the last series (2023) and the upcoming one in the 2024/25 season:
• Venue: Held in India.
• Dates: The series ran from February to March 2023.
• Outcome: India won the series 2-1.
• Matches and Results
1. First Test (Nagpur): India won by an innings and 132 runs.
° Highlights:
° India capitalized on spin-friendly conditions. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were pivotal with 7/81 and 8/79 respectively in the match.
° Australia Struggled with the bat, with their top order failing to adapt to the turning track.
° Rohit Sharma scored a crucial 120, setting a strong foundation for India.
2. Second Test (New Delhi): India won by 6 wickets.
° Highlights:
° Another match dominated by spin, with Jadeja 10/100 & Ashwin taking 6/116 in the first innings.
° Australia managed to make a fightback with Usman Khwaja scoring a century, but their batting collapse in the second innings handed the game to India.
° Cheteshwar Pujara played a match-winning knock of 31* in the chase, showing his resilience against spin.
3. Third Test (Indore): Australia won by 9 wickets.
° Highlights:
° A rare victory for Australia in the series, largely due to Nathan Lyon’s outstanding performance, taking 8/64 in the first innings.
° The pitch was criticized for being too spinner-friendly, leading to a quick end to the match.
° Steve Smith, leading in place of Pat Cummins, showed tactical acumen in guiding Australia to victory.
4. Fourth Test (Ahmedabad): Match ended in a draw.
• Highlights:
° This was the longest Test of the series, with pitch offering less assistance to spinners.
° Virat Kohli scored a century, his first in Test cricket in over three years, which was a significant personal milestone.
° With the series already won by India, the match was more about individual performances and retaining the trophy.
• Ravichandran Ashwin: His bowling was instrumental in India’s victories, particularly in Nagpur and New Delhi, where he took crucial wickets.
• Ravindra Jadeja: Made a significant impact with both bat and ball, earning him the player of the Series for his all-round performance.
• Nathan Lyon: For Australia, Lyon’s performance in Indore was a highlight, showcasing his skill on turning pitches.
• Virat Kohli: His century in Ahmedabad was a testament to his class, even if it didn’t affect the series result.
• WTC Points: India’s win ensured their qualification for the World Test Championship final later in 2023.
• Home Dominance: The series reinforced India’s dominance at home against Australia, having now won the last three series on Indian soil.
• Tactical Play: The series was a showcase of how teams can adapt or fail to adapt to specific conditions, with spin being the dominant factor.
• Controversy: The pitches in India, especially in Indore, drew criticism for being too biased towards spin, with the ICC rating the Indore pitch as “poor.”
The 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was not just about the cricket but also about narratives of comebacks, strategic battles, and individual milestones, encapsulating the essence of Test cricket.
• Venue: Will be held in Australia, starting from November 22, 2024.
• Format: This series will consist of five Test matches, marking the first time since the 1991-92 season that there will be a five-match series between these two teams.
• Expectations:
° Pitch Conditions: Australian pitches are generally known for their pace and bounce, contrasting with the spin–friendly tracks in India.
° Key Players: Players like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, and Nathan Lyon are expected to be influential, with Cummins potentially leading the wicket-taking charts while Rishabh Pant, could be aggressive batting, and the pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah will be crucial.
• Historical Significance:
° This series will be vital for both teams in the context of the World Test Championship (WTC). Australia, being at the top of the table, and India, with their recent successes in Australia, will both aim for a series victory to secure or improve their WTC standings.
• Narrative:
° India’s attempt to retain the trophy in Australia for the third consecutive time, an unprecedented achievement in cricketing history.
° Australia’s quest to reclaim to trophy on home soil, with their players like Cameron Green growing in experience.
• Venue Changes and Impact:
° Starting in Perth, followed by a day-night Test in Adelaide, could play into Australia’s strengths with pink ball and pace-friendly pitches.
° The series will test India’s adaptability away from home, especially with the inclusion of a practice match with the pink ball before the series, indicating preparation for the day-night conditions.
• Venue: The last series was in India, known for spin; this one is in Australia, known for pace.
• Number of Tests: Four Tests last time, now expanded to five, increasing the stakes and the opportunity for comebacks.
• Team Dynamics: Australia will be bolstered by home advantage, while India will look to continue their recent success in Australia, showcasing their ability to adapt to different conditions.
• Series Stakes: Both series are pivotal for WTC points, but the extra Test match in 2024/25 adds more weight to each game.
The upcoming series promises a fresh challenge with different conditions and an extended format, potentially setting the stage from another epic battle in cricket history.