With just two months remaining before the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicks off, Australia has already begun intense preparations for the five-match Test series against India. The series, starting on November 23, is expected to be a closely contested affair. To ensure their key players are in top form, Australia has rested their premier fast bowlers—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood—from the ongoing white-ball series in the UK.
This move is aimed at keeping them fresh and fit for the rigorous Test matches ahead. India, on the other hand, has held the upper hand in recent Border-Gavaskar clashes. They have won the last two series in Australia, both by 2-1 margins, and have maintained control of the prestigious trophy since the 2014-15 season.
However, the current World Test Champions, Australia, are determined to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and Josh Hazlewood has offered some insight into their game plan.
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Hazlewood mentioned that the focus will be on India’s newer batting stars. “The strategy is probably more focused on the newer players we haven’t played much Test cricket against, like (Yashasvi) Jaiswal and even Shubman Gill, who we’ve only faced a few times,” Hazlewood said during an interview with Star Sports.
He added that Australia’s experience with veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma provides them with a clearer plan of action. “We’ve played against Virat, Rohit, and others for years, so we know what to do. It’s about the basics, doing them well and for a long time.”
Australia’s approach, according to Hazlewood, often boils down to mastering the basics. “We usually find that, 9 out of 10 times, Test cricket comes back to that Plan A. You adapt to conditions and change things throughout the day or innings, but most of the time, it’s about executing that plan,” he explained.
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India, meanwhile, is hosting Bangladesh for two Tests before they take on New Zealand in a three-match series leading up to the Australia tour. The Border-Gavaskar series will be crucial as it is India’s final chance to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next year.
