Border-Gavaskar Trophy On Par With Ashes For Australia, Says Pace Ace Mitchell Starc

Australia pace ace Mitchell Starc believes that with the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India becoming a five-Test affair for the first time in over three decades, it would be "right on par" with the esteemed Ashes series for his team. (More Cricket News)

The marquee series between India and Australia, set to begin in November, was extended by a match this year for the first time s🌳in🍒ce the 1991-92 season.

"Being five matches now it's probably𒀰 right on par with an Ashes series," Starc told Wide World of Sports.

Since 2014-15, Australia have failed to lay their hands on the Border Gavsakar Trophy, with India winning four 😼co🍒nsecutive series including the historic triumphs Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

Starc is not only intent on reversing this trend♏ but also harbours aspirations of a clean sweep, particula꧃rly as the series forms a crucial part of the World Test Championship.

"We a꧟lways want to win every game at home and we know India are a very strong team," he said.

Currently, India lead the Wold Test Championships table with Australia in secoꦰnd place.

"As we're placed at the minute we're the top two teams on the Test ladder... so a very exciting series coming up for the fans and certainly the players🌳.

"Hopefully when we're sitting there on the 8th of🌟 January we have that trophy back on our shores."

The 34-year-old is just 11 mꦇatches shy of reaching a milestone 100 Tests and has no plans to quit red-ball cricket.

The left-armer said he is scaling back his white-ball commitm🥀ents to prolong his Test care💞er for as long as possible.

"...every time I get to wear the baggy green cap it feels very special. Hopeful💎ly it's five times thr൲ough the summer with five wins and we can sing that song five times, then we move on from there.

"If it does come to a point where I'm lucky enough to get past that 100 number then it's obviously going to be pretty s🐲pecial as well," he said.

Starc is scheduled to fly to England next month for a white-ball series following which the left-armer intends to play domestic cricket for New Sꦇouth Wales ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

"The Tests will always be taking 💎precedence for me," he said.

"We've got seven Tests on the boꦑunce with five against India and then two in Sri Lanka, so they sit top of the tree with what's coming up."

Alongside, Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Starc will shoulder the pace duties across three for🐼mats.

"Pat is resting for this UK tour... we love playing all three formats but that could look differen❀t at different times ov🌠er 12 months."

"There is certainly no end date on (our bowling careers). That will be an ongಌoi꧒ng one.

We'll see where (our) bodie🦄s are and the want to keep going, but at this stage it's all guns blazing for five Tests against India.