Hayden: Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series Edge Hard to Predict

2024-08-29

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has expressed uncertainty about which team holds the advantage in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, scheduled to be played between Australia and India from November 2024 to January 2025. Hayden, speaking at the CEAT cricket rating awards, noted that recent changes in Australian cricket conditions have diminished the traditional home advantage for Australia. He highlighted that runs are likely to be hard to come by in the series.

Hayden observed that the pitches at the five venues—Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney—include three drop-in wickets (Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne). Additionally, the second Test in Adelaide will be a day-night match, which can present challenging batting conditions, especially during twilight when overhead conditions can change rapidly. This shift has made it harder for teams to dominate games, as fluctuating conditions can lead to dramatic changes in a team's fortunes during a session. Hayden suggested that the lack of traditional, predictable surfaces has levelled the playing field significantly.

Australia’s recent struggles in home series, particularly against India, further complicate predictions for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The team has lost the last two home series against India, resulting in a decade-long loss of the trophy. Additionally, Australia's fortress in Brisbane has been breached twice in three years: first by India in January 2021, and then by the West Indies in January earlier this year, which ended in a 1-1 draw. This defeat to the West Indies also marked Australia’s first loss in a day-night Test after an impressive 11-match winning streak.

Looking ahead, Hayden anticipates an "unbelievable and historic series" between the top two Test teams globally but finds it difficult to predict a clear favorite. While former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has predicted a 3-1 series win for Australia, Hayden is less certain. He believes the series will hinge on the ability of top batsmen to score runs, which will be at a premium. The unique scheduling of the series, spanning from the west to the east of Australia, adds an extra layer of intrigue, as this is contrary to the usual sequence.

Key players to watch will include Virat Kohli and Steven Smith, the leading run-scorers for their respective teams. Kohli has a solid record against Australia, averaging 47.48 overall and 54.08 in Australia. Smith, on the other hand, has an impressive average of 65.87 against India. Hayden expects both players, in the later stages of their careers, to be pivotal in their teams' performances and to adapt their game to the challenging conditions.

Hayden also commented on the emerging talent of Indian batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal. He praised Jaiswal's "superb" strokeplay and ability to hit through the covers, though he acknowledged that Jaiswal will face significant challenges in Australian conditions. The bouncy tracks and larger grounds will test Jaiswal's skills, particularly against Australia’s world-class pace bowlers. Hayden noted that Jaiswal’s powerful hitting, including pull shots, could be exposed on the bigger grounds where precise contact is crucial for hitting sixes, and there’s a risk of being caught if the ball doesn’t clear the boundary.

In summary, Hayden’s insights suggest a highly competitive series where traditional home advantages are less pronounced, and individual brilliance from top batsmen like Kohli and Smith will be crucial. The unique conditions and challenges presented by the Australian pitches and weather will play a significant role in determining the series outcome.

Follow JeetBangla for More News on Vitality Blast

The Vitality Blast quarter-finals will take place over four nights from Tuesday, September 3rd to Friday, September 6th. Stay tuned to JeetBangla for all the latest news and updates on the tournament.