India-Australia rivalry no less than Ashes, India can breach 'fortress' Gabba: Mark Taylor

The rivalry between India and Australia has been ratcheting up in the last few years with the rise of India in overseas conditions and in the views of former Australian captain Mark Taylor, the rivalry between the two sides have scaled up new heights to challenge the rivalry of the Ashes series.

In a column written for Sydney Morning Herald, Taylor opined that India have risen well as a team and beyond his expectations are challenging his country in their own backyard. However, he still termed Ashes triumph as the most ‘coveted’ trophy for the Australians. 

“For a sport that was once dominated by Australia and England, the rise of India as a superpower has dramatically altered the political landscape of world cricket and created another major rivalry. The Ashes urn remains the most coveted prize for Australian cricket but the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is not far behind,” Taylor wrote in his Sydney Morning Herald opinion piece.

He said that the Indian teams have struggled in the past in Australia and hence he never thought they can challenge the Aussies at their home ground, but the performances in the last series and three matches of the ongoing series establish that they have become far more competitive on the Australian soil. 

“The importance of the series has escalated significantly in the past six years as each side has become more competitive away from home,” Taylor added.

Talking about the series-decider game starting January 15 at the Gabba, which Taylor very reluctantly says a fortress of the home side, he said India have managed their resources well even after losing so many of their players due to injuries and that there is more pressure on Tim Paine and company going into the Gabba Test. 

Although he marked Australia as the favourite to win the Test, he did not hold back saying India have a real chance of trouncing the hosts at their most-suited ground but for that to happen, they will have to play out of their skins.

“Throughout my career, I never felt India would trouble us in Australia but with one Test remaining they are still a chance to retain the trophy here and, if they play right out of their skins, win back-to-back series,” Taylor wrote further.

“I have loved the way India have competed despite losing so many top-line players to injury. The pressure is right on Tim Paine and his Australian team, who have close to every advantage available to them.”

He pointed out the lack of experience in the Indian bowling department as Mohammed Siraj who has the experience of two Test matches under him is set to lead the bowling attack at the Gabba. He said that the absence of Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, who is likely to miss the series decider due to abdominal strain, is similar to Australia missing Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. 

He said that the Indians have their task cut out but it’s not insurmountable to defeat Australia and if they are able to pull it off in Brisbane, the win will go down as one of the greatest wins in the modern era of cricket.

“Already weakened by the absence of captain Virat Kohli, India could well be without their first-choice pace attack if Jasprit Bumrah is out, as expected. To put that into perspective, how would Australia fare without Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc? Ajinkya Rahane may well be relying on a paceman playing his third Test, Mohammed Siraj, another in his second, Navdeep Saini, and a debutant to lead the charge at the pace-friendly ground. It's a mighty challenge but not insurmountable if they have the right mindset,” Taylor emphasized.

“If India can get the job done in Brisbane and beat a strong Australian side close to full strength, it will go down as one of the greatest series wins in modern times.”

The Indian side has had a tumultuous period in Australia with many first-choice plates returning home due to injuries in the early part of his career while some others have faced long-term injuries in the Sydney Test.

Australia have not been defeated at the Gabba since 1988 and the last match between the sides on this ground resulted in a four-wicket win for the hosts in the 2014-15 series. India won the last series between the sides in Australia in 2018 and hence even a draw would enable them to retain the Border Gavaskar trophy whereas for the Australians a win at the Gabba is must to regain the trophy they last won in the 2014-15 series.

Powered by Froala Editor