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With three months remaining before the first Test of the five-match series between India and Australia, excitement is already building around the eagerly awaited tour. India has dominated the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for nearly seven years, winning the last four series, including two in Australia.
For the first time since the 1991-92 season, the series will feature five Tests, and left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc believes that the rivalry now rivals the Ashes in significance.
“Being five matches now it’s probably right on par with an Ashes series,” Starc told Wide World of Sports.
Australia is currently the top-ranked Test team in the world and holds the ICC World Test Championship title, having secured it by defeating second-ranked India in last year’s final.
The last time Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was during India’s tour in the 2014-15 season, and they have not captured the trophy since.
Mitchell Starc, who has taken 48 wickets in 18 Tests against India, is optimistic about achieving a different outcome this time.
“We always want to win every game at home and we know India are a very strong team,” Starc said. “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.”
“…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,” he added.
Starc will next feature in Australia’s white-ball tour of the UK, but Test cricket remains his primary focus. He is just 11 Tests away from reaching the milestone of 100 matches for Australia.
“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,” he said.
“The Tests will always be taking precedence for me,” he added.
Pat Cummins will be taking a break from the UK tour to focus on his fitness in preparation for the upcoming Tests against India.
“Pat is resting for this UK tour… we love playing all three formats but that could look different at different times over 12 months,” Starc said.
“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,” he added.
