With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 around the corner, Ricky Ponting, an all-time great, has touted the India-Australia conflict like the Ashes, claiming these are among the best rivalries in the history of cricket. The first Test of the eagerly waited-for Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will throw open at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 22 in a few weeks time. The former Australian skipper pleaded with both sides however that all the rivalry should be respectful and the two sides should play the game in the spirit of the competition. Talking about the noise and warfare which is likely to surround the series, Ponting went to the extent of saying that he expects the matches to be played on the edge.
“Pretending this doesn’t exist: everyone knows there is rivalry, no one wants to lose, no one underestimates the other and that is the fight of the next series. There is Australia-England and the history of Ashes but there is Australia-India too, and it has been in the making for a long time. I think these are the wars that we look forward to. As a former player, a commentator, I’d like these two sides to go out and play their best for five matches and then see who the winner is when all the five matches are played,” the former spinner put it plainly in one of the appearances on ICC Review Show.
“Perhaps the word ‘spice’ is not appropriate, nevertheless, I presume there will not be much room for ‘play’ even with two encampments who are the best in the world. They will not allow themselves to be beaten in any competition whether it is the opposition or any other match for all of those five Test matches,” voiced the man who lifted the World Cup trophy.
Ponting equally underscored the importance of this clash. “This is the thing with these significant rivalries which exists in the world of sports. Currently, Test match between Australia and India is on the same level as any other competition in the world, not only cricket,” the 49-year-old said.
The first match of the series will take place in Perth on November 22, after which a day-night Test match will be played in Adelaide from December 6 to 10. The third Test match will be again hosted at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18. The historic Boxing Day Test will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the period of December 26 to 30. The series will finally wrap up with the fifth and last Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.
