Perth, Aug 21: Is it England versus Australia, or India versus England? Is it otherwise, Australia versus South Africa, or India versus Australia?
What is the greatest and most completive Test series rivalry in contemporary cricket? Well, the answer in all probability would be The Ashes between England and Australia.
But Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has made a blunt remark on these comparisons. The left-arm fast bowler stated that the Border-Gavaskar Test series between India and Australia is "right on par" with The Ashes.
Considering the history, enmity, tension, implications of these two Test series, surely majority of cricket lovers across the globe will have no second thought about it. They would unanimously agree that The Ashes is more intense, competitive and popular. But Starc feels otherwise.
As per Starc, the BG Trophy between India and Australia is equally intense, competitive and popular like The Ashes. That definitely is a blunt remark by a seasoned Australian player, who have played both The Ashes and the BG Trophy a number of times.
It can be recalled that the marquee Test series between India and Australia, set to begin in November, started for the first time in the 1991-92 season.
As per recent statistics, since 2014-15, Australia have failed to lay their hands on the Border-Gavsakar Trophy, with India winning four consecutive series including the historic triumphs Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
But Starc is confident that the upcoming BG Trophy will be a clean sweep by Australia. Though he admitted India are a strong side, but he is optimistic it would be the Aussies, who would have the last laugh this time, a section of press quoted him on Wednesday.
Presently, India leads the Wold Test Championships table with Australia in second place.
Starc is just 11 matches shy of reaching a milestone 100 Tests. Though he is 34, but has no plans to quit red-ball cricket in near future, he reportedly revealed.
