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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who is known for making bold statements, said that he wants the ball to start turning from day one of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, adding that India should take full use of the home advantage.
“I want the ball to turn from Day one! If you lose the toss, so be it. You want to see the ball turning a bit or something there on offer for the bowlers day one. It’s your strength. You’re playing at home. Capitalise on it,” he said in a press conference organised by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India are the current holder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won the last three series against Australia in 2017, 2018-19 and 2020-21. On the other hand, Australia will be desperate to win a Test series in India after previously winning it in 2004.
Earlier, Former Australia wicket-keeper Ian Healy had made a statement saying that the visitors’ will have an advantage if the the pitches start as good batting wickets with probably spin coming in to the picture later as the Test match progresses.
He further went on to add that if India continues to make ‘unfair’ wickets like they did in the last series where the balls were turning sharp, bouncing and sliding low from day one, then India will win.
“What Ian Healy said that Australia will have the advantage, a lot of that is based on what Australia has done at home. They’re not playing at home. They’re playing in India. Why anybody would think that India don’t start with an advantage, I don’t know,” said former Australia skipper Ian Chappell.
“There’s a lot of crap spoken about pitches. I believe nobody other than the curator should have a say on what wickets are produced. I don’t think it should be up to the players, the manager, the coach, or anybody! You just produce a good pitch. Surely a curator has been a player and wants to produce a good pitch,” he added.
When asked about former India captain Virat Kohli’s record against Australia in Test cricket, Shastri said, “I think just seeing his record against Australia, that should really spur him on. Forget what’s happened over the last few years as far as Test cricket goes with other teams. But with Australia, I think he will be charged up.
“When I look at this series, you know you look at the first two innings or three innings where someone like a Kohli with his past record, if he gets off to a start, then he’ll make it count. There’s no question about that. Then he’ll be a thorn in the flesh for Australia right through the series. So from Australia’s point of view, they won’t want that to happen. They would like to get on top of him from the outset.
“But, Kohli’s record, his average against Australia is just under 50, which is quite amazing with the amount of cricket he’s played against Australia with the kind of attack they have.”
Shastri also claimed that Australia will be itching for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to start quickly so that they can get a series victory in India.
“They would be hoping for Test matches to start as they want to reverse that scoreline. It’s not going to be easy as they are playing in India. Just as Australia does to sides when they tour there, India does to sides who tour here. Australia will really have to be on top of their game if they have to threaten India.”
Asked if the India-Australia clash is the greatest rivalry in modern-day sport, Shastri confidently said, “No question about it. It’s not just the cricket on the field. The buzz that an India-Australia series creates is second to none actually in world cricket. India is one of the teams that has really competed against Australia. That’s what has got everybody to watch the series and anticipation happens a lot.
“More than anything else, credit must be given to the Indian players for making that happen. Australia always had a reputation for playing in a certain fashion and dismantling sides. For India to step up and play them at their own game speaks volumes for the way the Indian players have performed over the last few years.”
Shastri signed off by adding that the decision to take the pitch out of the equation and the endeavour to take 20 wickets before the opposition helped India to beat Australia twice at their home.
“What changed was very simple — we went to Australia to beat them. That’s what changed instead of filling in for the numbers. You went there with no excuses whatsoever when it came to the conditions, and the pitches we played on. Very early in that series, I had said we’re going to take the pitch out of the equation.
“This thing about playing at home and playing overseas, to hell with that. You’re playing cricket on a 22-yard strip which is the same for both sides. Our endeavor was to take 20 wickets before they could take 20 wickets. And we did that.” he added.
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