Australia and India are two gigantic cricketing nations stacked with 31 ICC trophies between them – competitive heavyweights in both the men and women’s game, financial powerhouses with high-quality cricket systems and world-class players.
The India-Australia rivalry isn’t something that is a made-up in recent times. It is a battle that’s been going on since 1947-48 when India first toured Australia in the summer of 1947 under the leadership of the late Lala Amarnath against a dominant Aussie side with Sir Donald Bradman in charge. Even though that series was won by Australia 4-0 it marked the start of a new cricketing battle away from the Ashes.
After almost 50 Test matches between both these sides from 1947 to 1996, the Test series was renamed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to acknowledge the record-breaking achievements of cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and former Australia captain Allan Border.
The Indian Cricket Team celebrate winning the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2019, Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Since then the rivalry has grown immensely, turning players into superstars and heroes – the gripping matches won Australia at an away level creating a new challenge for our batsman and bowlers in the subcontinent. Indian wins on Aussie soil show the level of resilience and grit, while the viewership numbers have increased with every passing summer and matchup.
On the other hand, the Ashes rivalry needs no introduction. Every Australian dream is to see that urn in a glass cabinet down under, whether earned at home or in England. The Brits are looking to turn the tables, based on recent times and a string of loses.
The statement mentioned above about England’s slump in Ashes form and this narrative about a moral victory shows where the Ashes are at the moment. Are the ashes overhyped when played in Australia? With no real competition – except the matches at Sydney where the rain saves the poms!! Isn’t the Border-Gavaskar trophy more entertaining and important with both sides competitive regardless of the pitch?
Let’s dive into these questions and see where the two biggest Test series stand in recent times. I refer to the series and matches played between 2013-14 to 2023 – marking a decade of Ashes and the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Ashes 2013-14 to 2021
In 2013, cricket fans were treated to not one, but two Ashes series. The first one saw England hosting Australia in the summer of 2013, but it was the second series that stole the show. The Aussies hosted England in the winter of 2013-14, and boy was it a spectacle. The reason why the latter series takes the cake is all thanks to the ripping form of Mitchell Johnson.
He was so devastating that he reminded fans of the legendary Jeff Thomson. With 37 wickets in 10 innings, Johnson broke the bats and hearts of English staples players like Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Graeme Swann, and many more. It was pure dominance from the Aussie side and a complete disaster for England. As a neutral fan, you would have expected a fight from the opposition, but it was not to be.
Fast forward to the Ashes series of 2017-18 and 2021-22, and it appeared England couldn’t take a hint. They faced another humiliating defeat, and it was almost as if they hadn’t bothered to learn from their past mistakes. The Aussies were on top once again, and England seemed to be helpless. It was purely the lack of quality and motivation from England that made the Ashes in Australia boring spectacle. The viewership says the same thing.
What we can conclude about Ashes in recent times is that the English-based series have been way more exciting and memorable due to the tenure of the Tests. Any match that extends to a fourth or fifth day shows a contest and a level of grit not seen in a three-day fizzle out.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: 2014-15 to 2020-21
India’s performances in Australia have always been successful. Be it white ball ODI tours or T20I – but for such a large cricketing nation of 1.1 billion people the big question looms on India’s Test record in Australia. India have been touring Australia since 1947 and effectively hammered except few rare series like the 1981, 2003-04 and 2007-08.
In the mid-2000s the batting of Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, and VVS Laxman made sure that India always competed in Australia – although to succeed you need to take 20 wickets. What does India do to rectify it and make sure they win a Test series in Australia? They invest in fast bowling through the MRF pace foundation which boasts Glenn McGrath as its director. As a result, India goes on and wins the next two from three Australian series during 2014-2020.
Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath of Australia celebrate with the Border Gavaskar Trophy after winning the series 2 – 1 in 2004, Mumbai, India. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
In 2014 India was going through this transition period of new Test players who were good at home but were not tested overseas. The 2014 series marked Virat Kohli’s Test captaincy appointment. From the four Test matches he captained two. The first Test was in Adelaide where India nearly chased down a mammoth total of 364 in a 2nd innings that threatened a new age of Indian attack and intent. That mindset brought a change to Indian cricket which was well received. Though India did lose the series 2-0, it was clear wins were coming.
In 2018-19 they won their first Test series in Australia under Kohli. We can go on and say how it was a relatively easier series for India with Smith and Warner not being there, yet, India won deservingly through a striking pace attack of Shami, Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav. Australia’s ego was rattled. The reason why the 2018-19 series feels a lot more special than the 2020-21 for Indians is because they found a blueprint on how to win in Australia.
Another summer went by in 2019 and Australia returned with a classic ferocity. They belted Pakistan and New Zealand under Tim Paine, who said he was looking forward to a mouth-watering contest against India the following year. Covid wiped out an otherwise promising 2020-21 summer. Kohli played just the first Test, but the hype around the series was something never seen in an Ashes promo.
The buildup was massive, due to India’s recent maiden series victory in Australia and the return of once exiled Smith and Warner. The 36 all-out happens at the Adelaide Oval – surely India can’t come back and pose a threat to the series? India won the Boxing Day Test with no captain Kohli. They drew the Sydney Test match and then polished a famous Gabba win. All this with their main players out shows you why the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series will be remembered for a long time and why the 2018-19 series wasn’t a fluke win.
This series caused mayhem in Australian cricket and for the first time in decades Australian fans found a real opponent who challenged on home soil. They respected Indian players like never before. Rishabh Pant, Pujara, Bumrah, and Ashwin. These players created an aura that made them respected and that is why the 2024-25 series is of such interest. No matches were one-sided in 2020-21 and viewership was at an all-time high.
The Ashes down under hasn’t been that exciting with the results being so one-sided. It is simply the historic rivalry that drives a continued interest. This summer, India vs Australia is expected to be a blockbuster series with high anticipation levels. Who doesn’t want to see Smith vs Kohli, Gill vs Labushagne, Starc vs Bumrah, Cummins vs Shami, Lyon vs Siraj and Rohit vs Khawaja. Strap yourselves in!
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
Both Smith and Kohli are well past their prime regardless BG.
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
Australia have only played Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at those venues BG and even then, one of those games (of 4) was a high scoring draw.
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
I don't agree Gavaskar was a legend. He was the quintessential flat track bully, for the most part.
Kamran
Roar Rookie
I completely get you i would say the same for the India-Pakistan game but in recent times just the quality of cricket between India and Australia has been very competitive. For neutral fans who love watching a good cricket game India and Australia have provided that be it in India or Australia, the same can not be said about the ashes. Ashes in the UK has always been a blockbuster everyone around the globe has an amazing interest and also the fact that the time that the match starts helps people across different countries in different timezones helps it as well in Australia it's the opposite the opposition team has to challenge or win the first match of the series to make it a engaging series or show some fight!! The 2021-22 Ashes was a prime example of it being boring because the poms had given up whereas India didn't give up that's why from a cricketing point of view the Australia rivalry down under in recent times has been far superior to ashes down under!!
whymuds
Roar Rookie
Coming into this late... Brett - that is a remarkable laundry list for no other reason than almost everything you said being covered in utter cr@p. Well done Kamran for your balanced response. Kamran - enjoyable read. There are obviously different ways to measure how good a rivalry is. You are right - from a purely on field play perspective, hard to look past BGT as the most competitive over the past 25 years or so. From a fan's perspective, Ashes sits at the top. But that's only because India and Pakistan don't play tests against each other. If they did, there would be 1.5 billion fans that would say this is the best and relegate the Ashes to shade. Players build everything up. I get the feeling the Indians love to win in SENA countries, but they would value wins in Australia and England the most. And while we'll never know the answer, I would wager that there would be a few Aussie players that would give up series wins / draws against England for just one test series win in India.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure you're seeing this rivalry in the same way I am, which is the same way many from both England and Australia see it. Most serious cricket supporters from either country don't stop thinking about the Ashes - not for a day. For example, Nathan Lyon is in England playing County cricket in the off seaosn, yet there are multiple stories about him giving away trade secrets to a bloke expected to play a role in the Ashes, which is not happening for another 18 months! If people had the same attitude towards the Ashes you expressed, you wouldn't see the rise of the Barmy Army or the tens of thousands who have already booked to come to Australia for the next series. Why would they do that if the cricket was " one sided and boring for the cricketing world except Australia?" And exactly the same thing happens in reverse when the Poms are hosting Australia. I totally agree, the quality of the cricket which should be played in the upcoming series with India, should be of a far higher standard than we're likely to see in the Ashes - but that's only part of the equation. 150 years of tradition makes this almost personal for many, so an England cricketer calling an Aussie a "convict", will certainly generate a response, just as drawing the last Ashes series was akin to a defeat for many England supporters.
Kamran
Roar Rookie
Well if you just see the quality of cricket and how the matches haven't been one sided a neutral would prefer an India Australia test series than the ashes in Australia which is one sided and boring for the cricketing world except Australia!!
Kamran
Roar Rookie
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Rob
Roar Rookie
The ashes are hyped out here but other than 2011 have been a farce for 40 years now. Poms get flogged and its over 3 tests in. and will happen again in 2 years time.
Blink
Roar Rookie
I think you misunderstand Bretts comment Kamran. We love to hate Poms and can't stand losing to them at cricket (or any game for that matter). With India its just a game of cricket.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
When W.I.’s were kings, tests and odi’s had big crowds, good tough competition. Today the tests aren’t much and fan interest and money dwindled. There have been times of The Ashes not being competitive, but it still rolls on.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
The England/Australia rivalry is more than 150 years old whereas the India/Australia rivalry is less than 25 years old. There's no way the two can be compared, IMO. Yes, India is a strong Test playing nation and yes they've got some exciting talent coming through, but the average Australian supporter can't get nearly as excited about the series in November as we can about the series the following summer. I already started to look at who might tour for the Poms in January, while they playing that series in India. I'm not likely to do the same for India, not because I don't know the players available, but because I don't care as much. In similar vein, if India won the series, I'd be sad but not bitterly disappointed like I would be if we lost the Ashes
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
The conditions in India are perfect for making whatever type of pitch the curators like. Pitches in Darwin & Cairns, where weather conditions are similar to India, have produced wickets that are flat and good for batting, spiced up a little and very good for the quicks or watered a little more and turn significantly. Theres no reason why Indian pitches couldn't do exactly the same.
sedz
Roar Rookie
5 match series is too long. No one cares to watch in Australia except if Poms are mauled in Ashes. India must play 3 match series with every team including Aus, England, SL or WI who ever it is to develop the game of test cricket.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Australia v India will be a good series but will always merely be a prelude to the big one … The Ashes!
Kamran
Roar Rookie
Bang on there have!! In this article I'm not really trying to change the aussie psyche that the Indian Australian teat series are better than ashes that would be like you guys convining India Australia is a better rivalry than the India Pakistan but what I'm saying is recent times home and away its been pretty one sided in ashes with the ashes only being competitive in England but when you see India Australia tests not only have we seen good competitions in Australia but in India as well . The 2017 test series was the closest India have ever been to lose a test series at home in 12 years if you ask any Indian or Indian team Australians are still the one that have a chance to win in India same applies to 2023 India could have won it 4-0 but at the end it was 2-1 the loss in 3rd test made sure India had to prepare a highway for the 4th test. So in recent times just on a cricketing POV it's a more interesting series and given the WTC points table you guys definitely would love to play a top side than a side languishing at number 8 in points table!! But I'm not the one to change the tradition of Aussies bashing poms I hope it continues more!!!
Kamran
Roar Rookie
Haha true mate
Vamsi K
Roar Rookie
If Mayank does perform as he is doing currently for the remainder of tbe IPL then he will most likely find a place in squad for T20 WC. For tests it is still too early and he is just coming back from injuries which made him unable to play for almost a year or so. Umran is now part of the group of fast bowlers who were given a contract by BCCI and marked for special care and training. BCCI as well as team management also asked his state ranji team, J&K, to give him more time in games, to get him acquainted to test cricket. Hopefully, in a year or so he will be part of the test team along with Mayank, Akash Deep and a few other perspective bowlers, all of whom are bowling 140+ consistently.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Yes the England series had pretty good pitches.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Still sometimes impossible to put paragraph breaks on this website!