The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia will be a five-match affair for the first time in over three decades. This elevates its status to be on par with the Ashes series for the Australian team, according to pace bowler Mitchell Starc. The marquee series, which begins in November, was extended by a match this year, a first since the 1991-92 season. Starc expressed his excitement about the increased significance of the series.
Since 2014-15, Australia has been unable to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India dominating the series and winning the last four editions, including historic victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
"Being five matches now it's probably right on par with an Ashes series," Starc told Wide World of Sports.
Starc is determined to not only end Australia's losing streak against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also aims to achieve a complete whitewash. This series is especially important for Australia as it is a key part of their World Test Championship campaign.
Want to win every game at home: Mitchell Starc
"We always want to win every game at home and we know India are a very strong team," he said.
India is currently at the top of the World Test Championship table, while Australia is in second position.
“As we're placed at the minute we're the top two teams on the Test ladder... so a very exciting series coming up for the fans and certainly the players. Hopefully when we're sitting there on the 8th of January we have that trophy back on our shores,” Starc further added.
At 34 years old, Starc is only 11 matches away from playing his 100th Test match. He has no intention of retiring from Test cricket. To extend his Test career, he has decided to reduce his involvement in white-ball cricket.
"...every time I get to wear the baggy green cap it feels very special. Hopefully it's five times through the summer with five wins and we can sing that song five times, then we move on from there. If it does come to a point where I'm lucky enough to get past that 100 number then it's obviously going to be pretty special as well," Australia's premier pacer stated.
Starc will be traveling to England next month for a white-ball series. After that, he plans to play domestic cricket for New South Wales before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
"The Tests will always be taking precedence for me. We've got seven Tests on the bounce with five against India and then two in Sri Lanka, so they sit top of the tree with what's coming up."
Starc, along with the Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, will be responsible for the pace bowling in all three formats of cricket.
"Pat is resting for this UK tour... we love playing all three formats but that could look different at different times over 12 months. There is certainly no end date on (our bowling careers). That will be an ongoing one. We'll see where (our) bodies are and the want to keep going, but at this stage it's all guns blazing for five Tests against India," Starc concldued.
The much-awaited India-Australia Test series will begin on November 22 at Optus Stadium in Perth. This five-match series will then continue in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. Cricket fans can expect an exciting clash between these two cricketing giants.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
