New Delhi: Australia are hungry to beat India and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, says Josh Hazlewood though the top pacer ackonwledges that it would be a keenly fought five-Test series that begins from November 22 in Perth.
Australia are yet to win a Test series against India since 2014, getting beaten in four consecutive series home and away. They are keen to prevent a thirs successive series loss at home, having gone down in the last two contests at their own backyard between the two sides.
Hazlewood said he is aware that Indian batters love batting in the bouncy conditions where stroke making can be easier once they get used to the pace and carry of the wicket.
India have a formidable batting unit, led by skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, whose personal duel with Australia finest Steve Smith is one of the talking points in the build-up to the series.
“Yeah, probably sums it up there, toughest rivalry. It’s always a great challenge playing against India, and they are so used to the conditions out here, they love it. You know in Australia the challenge is huge. They’re batting their top order, no matter who’s playing, is unbelievable, their top six or seven,” Hazlewood told Star Sports.
“I played them in my debut series, obviously, and we got the win, that might have been the last time. A lot of the same players are still playing, I think I got Virat that game. So a lot of our players, I guess, haven’t beaten India in a Test series. The guys were playing, such as Travis Head, Cameron Green, guys like that. So, yeah, huge summer for us coming up and hopefully get that trophy back,” he added.
Mark of respect
Opener Usman Khawaja said that the rialry bwteen the two teams have been immense and it has only intensified over the years, to the point that it has been likened to Ashes.
“We’re world number one, world number two teams really over the last two years. We were there at the last World Test Championship together. The rivalry has always been huge.
“I take it as a sign of respect and I know it that Indians love beating Australia in any sort of form of cricket. And the tradition that Australia has had over so many years as being one of the dominating teams in world cricket has staked that reputation,” Khawaja said.
Khawaja reminded that India and Australia are the top two teams in the Test rankings and with the players of two teams also playing in the Indian Premier League has only increased the rivalry.
“I think, yeah, for Indians it’s always been the case to beat Australia. And more recently, you know, since the rise of India and IPL and everything else that happened, it’s the same way with Australia against India. And particularly since India’s beaten Australia in Australia the last two times they’ve come out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It just means a little bit more.”
Australia are yet to win a Test series against India since 2014, getting beaten in four consecutive series home and away Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
