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The Border-Gavaskar Trophy: One of world sport's greatest contests

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Roar Guru
27th November, 2018
28

Even though I am an Australian for the last 18 years, Indian blood runs deep through my veins.

My great grandparents were taken from the south of India to work in sugar plantations in the beautiful Fiji. The British called them indentured laborers.

Make no mistake, they were treated as slaves.

Moving to Australia has provided our family with acceptance, perspective and opportunity. And I have tried to support the Australian cricket team, but unfortunately, the predilection of ‘once an Indian, always an Indian’ is embedded. Bring on the Test series!

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, named after two individuals who exemplified the cricket played by both nations, is fast becoming one of the iconic battles on world sport, played between two proud countries with rich cricketing histories.

Allan Border was a gritty batsman but, impressive as he was with a bat, he will be known as the person who changed Australian cricket with his captaincy.

Stoic, courageous, determined and honourable were the qualities that led his embattled outfit from the doldrums. He urged his team to play the Australian way, which stood for hard but fair – a philosophy that has been challenged by the Capetown scandal.

However, I have no doubt that Australian cricket will be on their feet again. It is in their DNA.

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That was what I admired and, to an extent, envied most about them. They were so good that I was hoping they failed. Only recently have they shown vulnerability, which I hope India can capitalise on.

Sunil Gavaskar, on the other hand, was a textbook opening batsman who, as Harsha Bhogle put it, instilled pride in a generation.

Gavaskar was the hope India needed when all else failed. He encountered a plethora of some of the greatest fast bowlers and averaged an astounding 67 against the deadly West Indies bowling line-up of the 1970s and ’80s. He showed India that they can be the best.

And the legacy of these two stalwarts has given birth to some of the most memorable series in recent memory.

As an Indian supporter, there have been more times of disappointment than elation Down Under.

Of course, in 2003 we drew a four-match series 1-1 on the back of some brilliant Rahul Dravid batsmanship. Then there was the 2007-08 series that took the relationship of these proud cricketing nations to a new low.

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I used to loathe the Australian cricket team due to their behavior on the field, but deep down I feel it was more due to their excellence, skill and superior mentality.

Of course, India have not been saints themselves, and the presence of antagonistic characters have made the encounters heated and fiery.

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This year, for the first time, India are favourites in Australia, but I am not convinced that it will be one-sided.

Australia still has the best fast-bowling cartel, and possibly the best spinner in the world in Nathan Lyon – and bowlers get you 20 wickets.

India competed well both in South Africa and England, but came back empty-handed. This is also one of the few times that India has some quality in their pace department. Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav can all hit speeds of 145km/h. But more than the speed is the development of maturity in their bowling.

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The key, however, is Ravichandran Ashwin, who was poor in England, but his maturity seems to desert him when touring. This is where he can learn a thing or two from Lyon.

Whatever the scenario, I am hoping for closely fought series played in great spirits. My fingers are crossed for an Indian victory, but Australia will be difficult to beat at home.

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