Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey
Australia captain Pat Cummins, along with Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, have spoken of the importance of regaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy this upcoming summer. Australia have not held the trophy since 2014/15, where they won the series 2-0 at home. Incredibly, the Australians have won just four of their past 18 bilateral Tests against India, a record the team is desperate to overturn.
“It’s been ten years of unfinished business, it’s been a long time, and I know we’re extremely hungry to turn things around especially here at home,” Lyon said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “Don’t get me wrong, India is an absolute superstar side and extremely challenging but I’m extremely hungry to turn things around and make sure we get that trophy back.”
Lyon then went on to say the team has come a fair way in the past couple of years. The offspinner believes the team is on the way to greatness, but a series win over India is an important piece of the puzzle.
“Feel like we are a different team to a couple of years ago, we are on a journey of becoming a great Australian cricket team. We’re definitely not there but we are along that journey and have been playing some decent cricket,” he said.
Astounding that quite a few Australia players have never won a Border Gavaskar Trophy series – Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood echoed Lyon’s thoughts. The pace bowler believes the lack of success against India is something the team needs to get right to confirm their status as one of Australia’s stronger teams.
“There are quite a few players who have never beaten India in a Test series. It’s quite astounding to say that,” Hazlewood said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Hazlewood also praised India’s depth, especially given how they bounced back after being bowled out for 36 in 2020/21. However, he believes no matter the opposition, Australia should win every series at home.
“It’s been ten years of unfinished business, it’s been a long time, and I know we’re extremely hungry to turn things around especially here at home”
Nathan Lyon.
“That’s [Border Gavaskar Trophy] one we need to tick off, definitely, in particular at home – we should pretty much win every series here at home,” Hazlewood said.
“That last series we obviously bowled them out for 36 in Adelaide and we thought here we go, [we are] back at home [and] confident on these grounds. People say we played India B in that last Test, but they can sometimes be stronger than the best team. They’ve got unbelievable depth in all formats and we are starting to see that now.”
Pat Cummins primed to be rested and ready for 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy
Pat Cummins is just as motivated. The captain will miss the white-ball tour of Scotland and England, and has been given two months off bowling by Cricket Australia to be primed for the five-match series.
“I’m just trying to fill up the bucket again after two years of non-stop bowling. (Hoping) come that first Test in as good of a position as I have been in for a few years,” Cummins said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
Cummins is expected to feature in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan in November as well as one game for New South Wales.
“I’ve got those ODIs, aiming to absolutely be part of that series,” he said. “I would say at least a NSW one-day game, if not a Shield game, before the ODIs.”
The 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy will begin on 22 November in Perth. Adelaide (D/N), Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney will host the remaining four Tests.
