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India are set to embark on a challenging tour to Australia this November for a five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test series, aiming to build on their impressive recent performances against the Aussies in Test cricket. This series will mark the first five-Test series between these two cricketing giants since the 1991/92 season, which also took place in Australia.
India’s recent dominance in Border Gavaskar Trophy
In recent years, India have established a remarkable record against Australia in Test cricket. The last four series between the two sides have all ended in India’s favor, each by a narrow 2-1 margin. This includes their groundbreaking victories on Australian soil in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 series. The latter series was particularly notable as it came amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with India managing a memorable draw at Sydney before clinching victory in the final Test at the Gabba with a severely depleted and inexperienced squad.
Australia’s last series win over India occurred during the 2014/15 season. The Aussies won the first two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane, with the third Test in Melbourne ending in a draw. This series also saw a significant shift in Indian cricket, as MS Dhoni resigned from his captaincy mid-series, handing over the leadership to Virat Kohli.
Australian perspective: Nathan Lyon’s comments
Looking ahead to the upcoming series, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon shared his thoughts with ESPNCricinfo, emphasizing the host team’s determination to reverse their recent fortunes against India. Lyon expressed a strong desire to reclaim the trophy. He acknowledged India’s prowess but remained focused on the goal of winning back the series.
“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. 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 said.
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Lyon’s warning for the Australian bowlers
Lyon also highlighted Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as a significant challenge for the Australian bowlers. He mentioned having discussions with England spinner Tom Hartley about Jaiswal’s capabilities, particularly after Hartley’s experiences during the county season with Lancashire.
“I haven’t come across him [Jaiswal] yet, but that will be a massive challenge for all us bowlers. The way he played against England, I watched that quite closely and thought that was quite amazing. I had some really good chats with Tom Hartley about different ways he went about it to different guys which I found quite interesting. I love talking about cricket, so if I can talk to someone who has played Test cricket I might be able to pick up something I’m not aware of. There’s so much knowledge floating around this game that we can always tap into,” Lyon concluded.
Jaiswal’s performance in India’s recent Test series against England was impressive; he amassed 712 runs at an average of 89, including two double centuries and three fifties. Despite Hartley’s efforts, Jaiswal was dismissed only once in five Tests. Jaiswal will be touring Australia for the first time with the senior team, and he will be keen to make an impact against a formidable Australian bowling attack.
