Former Australian cricket player Matthew Hayden believes that Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will try to lead the way in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy. Smith and Kohli, who are considered part of the ‘fab four’, have consistently shown their skills in the competitive matches between Australia and India. In 25 Test matches, Kohli has scored 2042 runs against Australia with an average of 47.48 and eight centuries. On the other hand, Smith has scored the same number of runs in 19 Test matches against India, averaging 65.87 with nine centuries.
Hayden mentioned during the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards on Wednesday, “Cricket is a game that relies on momentum, and I’m confident that these two players, now in the later stages of their cricket careers, will be eager to take control during the summer.” He added, “That’s just their style. They approach the game differently, but they are definitely the key players for the Australian summer.”
Both experienced players have had some unforgettable moments and heated exchanges on the field throughout their careers. As they are nearing the end of their Test careers, they hope to make the most of the major events this Australian summer.
India and Australia will compete in a five-Test series for the first time since 1991-92, beginning on November 22 in Perth. Hayden mentioned that it will be difficult to determine which team has the advantage.
“When you look at the teams, it’s tough to say which one has the advantage. I think the number of runs scored will be what makes the difference. Players who were very reliable, like Pujara in Australian conditions, have retired,” he mentioned.
“Was he thrilling? Not really. But was he successful? Absolutely. Looking back, players like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were very dependable in our conditions. The top players need to perform well in this series, because runs will be very valuable,” he added.
Hayden noted that the Australian players are keen to break their losing streak against India, as they haven’t won a series against them since 2014-15.
“We haven’t held it for two series in Australia, which are the highly desired locations. It’s not quite like the Steve Waugh era in 2001, where this was the sacred field, a place where Australia really aimed to win,” he mentioned.
“And his excellent era didn’t achieve that. There’s always a great chance for the top two teams in the World Test Championship to compete directly, especially when they’re in each other’s territories and can see who truly has the right to be the best…
“…to not only have the chance to play in the Test Championship but also to determine who is the absolute best, which you evaluate based on how you perform on tours, not just how you play in your own country,” he explained.
