BGT 2024-25: Pat Cummins reveals how Australian pitches have changed over the years. (Photo Source: Daniel Pockett – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
India will be touring Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the first Test scheduled to commence in Perth on November 22. Ahead of the tournament, there is plenty of hype surrounding the playing conditions in the impending series. Australia captain Pat Cummins has said that venues across the series will assist both batters and bowlers equally.
The fact that India has won the last two series in Australia adds to the excitement, with Aussies aiming strongly at the trophy this time around. Moreover, both the teams are placed first and second respectively in the World Test Championship points table and are the favorites to enter the finals. Speaking of the decks in Australia, Cummins also hopes that batters too can reign supreme on some occasions.
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“I think they’ve changed quite a bit the wickets, probably in the last four or five years. I think, there is a little bit more in it for us bowlers. The first couple of series I played in 2017, 2018, and 2019, were pretty flat in most venues, whereas most venues now I think get the balance really well between bat and ball. I think, over the course of five test matches you’re going to get a bit of everything,” said Cummins speaking to Star Sports.
“You’re going to get some that move really quickly, but also maybe a test match or two where it becomes attritional and it’s a real grind. I think, sometimes where the bowlers are licking their lips when the conditions do it in their favor, but wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a couple of days where the batters can really cash in as well,” he added.
It is worth noting that the previous edition of the series was held in India and the home team managed to clinch the series by 2-1. Notably, Australia won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last time in 2014-15. This will be the first time the teams will be playing a five-match series as part of the Trophy unlike the four-match series held previously.