Border-Gavaskar Trophy Now on Par with Ashes, Says Mitchell Starc

The pacesetter from Australia As the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India turns into a five-Test match for the first time in more than thirty years, Mitchell Starc feels that his team’s performance would be “right on par” with that of the prestigious Ashes series.

This year, for the first time since the 1991–92 season, the highly anticipated series between Australia and India—which is scheduled to start in November—was extended by one match.

Starc said to Wide World of Sports, “At five matches now, it’s probably right on par with an Ashes series.”

Australia hasn’t been able to win the Border Gavsakar Trophy since 2014–15. India has won four straight series, including their historic victories in 2018–19 and 2020–21.

In addition to hoping to reverse this pattern, Starc also has high hopes for a perfect sweep, especially as the series is an important component of the World Test Championship.

“We always want to win every game at home and we know India are a very strong team,” he said.

Currently, India leads the Wold Test Championships table with Australia in second place.

“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.”

The 34-year-old has no intention of giving up red-ball cricket even though he is just 11 games away from surpassing the historic 100 Tests mark.

The left-armer stated that in an effort to extend his Test career as long as possible, he is reducing his white-ball commitments.

“…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,” he said.

Next month, Starc will take a plane to England for a white-ball series. After that, the left-armer plans to play for New South Wales in domestic cricket before competing for the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

“The Tests will always be taking precedence for me,” he stated.

“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.”

In addition to Josh Hazlewood and Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins, Starc will be in charge of setting the tempo in all three forms.

“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.

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