The Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has hopes for Pat-Cummins is keen on ending India’s winning streak in the Border Gavaskar Trophy when India tour down in November – January.
The experienced pacer highlighted that Australia has not defeated India since his debut in 2014, adding Pat Cummins-led side is desperate to win the series in the upcoming home series.
India has won successive test series in Australia after the 2018-19 season. India fought back from the Adelaide Test humbling to breach the Gabba fortress and win the series 2-1 in 2020-21.
India has been dominating Australia at home stitching a winning streak that has extended to nearly 20 years.
While speaking in the much-anticipated test series, Hazlewood said Indian batters love playing in Australian conditions and talked up the firepower in the batting unit.
“Yeah, probably sums it up there, toughest rivalry. It’s always a great challenge playing against India, and they are so used to the conditions out here, they love it. You know in Australia the challenge is huge. They’re batting their top order, no matter who’s playing, is unbelievable, their top six or seven,” Hazlewood said.
“I played them in my debut series, obviously, and we got the win, that might have been the last time. A lot of the same players are still playing, I think I got Virat that game. So a lot of our players, I guess, haven’t beaten India in a test series.”
“The guys were playing, such as Travis Head, Cameron Green, guys like that. So, yeah, huge summer for us coming up, and hopefully get that trophy back,” he added.
India is likely to be without Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane who played a crucial role in India’s series wins in the last two tours. However, the income of young stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill will be enough to take on the Indian batting legacy while Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul‘s roles in the middle order will also become crucial.
Meanwhile, Australia’s test opener Usman Khawaja spoke about the rivalry India and Australia share, saying that it is a sign of respect that Indian teams take pride in beating the Aussies.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been equal to that of Ashes and even some say IND vs AUS has surpassed the cricket’s oldest rivalry of ENG vs AUS.
“We’re world number one, world number two teams really over the last two years. We were there at the last World Test Championship together. The rivalry has always been huge.”
“I take it as a sign of respect and I know it that Indians love beating Australia in any sort of form of cricket. And the tradition that Australia has had over so many years as being one of the dominating teams in world cricket has staked that reputation,” Khawaja said.
“I think, yeah, for Indians, it’s always been the case to beat Australia. And more recently, you know, since the rise of India and IPL and everything else that happened, it’s the same way with Australia against India.”
“And particularly since India’s beaten Australia in Australia the last two times they’ve come out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It just means a little bit more,” concluded Khawaja.
The first test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy will be played between November 22 – 26 at Perth Stadium.
