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The Australian cricket team, led by their renowned spinner Nathan Lyon and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, have expressed their burning desire to reclaim the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India. The upcoming series, set to commence in Perth on November 22nd, will see the Australians aiming to erase the memory of their recent setbacks against India, particularly in home series. They have conceded two consecutive home Test series to the Indian team, a fact that has fueled their hunger to turn things around.
The Australian team's motivation stems from their past experiences, particularly the 2019 and 2020-21 series defeats. The first of these losses came in early 2019 when Australia were without the key duo of Steve Smith and David Warner, who were serving ball-tampering bans. However, the 2020-21 series defeat was particularly stinging, as India, despite starting poorly with a 36 all out in the first Test, managed to secure a 2-1 victory in the four-match series. This victory came at the Gabba, traditionally considered an Australian fortress, adding salt to the wound for the hosts.
While the Australian team has not been successful in touring India, their last victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy came in 2014-15. This long period of dominance by India adds further impetus to Australia's quest to reclaim the trophy. Lyon, in particular, has expressed his strong desire to turn the tide and secure the victory. He acknowledged India's strength and the challenging nature of the series but remained resolute in his commitment to reclaim the trophy.
Hazlewood, who also experienced the previous home series defeats, echoed Lyon's sentiments. He highlighted the fact that a significant number of current Australian players have never tasted victory against India in a Test series. This underlines the significance of the upcoming series for the team, particularly at home where they are expected to be competitive. Australia's confidence in their ability to perform well stems from their recent performances and their current journey to becoming a great Australian cricket team. They acknowledge that they are still in the process of development but believe they are on the right track, having played some commendable cricket in recent times.
The series will also mark the debut of Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who impressed during the recent home series against England. Lyon has identified Jaiswal as a key challenge for the Australian bowling attack, given his exceptional performances. He has studied Jaiswal's game closely and hopes to gain insights from his discussions with English spinner Tom Hartley, who had firsthand experience facing the young Indian batsman. Lyon's passion for the game is evident in his willingness to learn and adapt, constantly seeking knowledge from those around him.
While the Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains a primary target, the Australians are also aiming to secure their second consecutive World Test Championship final appearance. This ambition is further heightened for Hazlewood, who missed the previous final against India in 2023. Currently, Australia is second in the WTC table behind India, making the upcoming series crucial in their pursuit of a final berth. The competitive nature of the series, combined with the Australian team's determination and focus, promises an exciting and closely contested battle between these cricketing giants.
Source: Extremely hungry to turn things around against India - Lyon