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'Nothing Comes Close To Ashes': Vaughan Stirs Controversy By Discounting IND-AUS Rivalry

Michael Vaughan compares BGT rivalry to iconic Ashes [Source: @AndyVermaut, @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]Michael Vaughan compares BGT rivalry to iconic Ashes [Source: @AndyVermaut, @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]

Former England captain Michael Vaughan stirred a fresh controversy after he refused to rank India-Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy rivalry bigger than the Ashes rivalry between Australia and England. In his column in Telegraph, Vaughan opined that Ashes is superior due to its heritage and 150 years long history.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is set to commence from November 22 at Perth. Ahead of the series, conversations about India-Australia rivalry slowly catching up to Ashers rivalry has begun. 

Ashes has been in existence since the past 150 years and Australia-England rivalry is believed to be one of the longest and fiercely fought contests.  However, the BGT had changed cricket dynamics in the past decade, with many now deeming it bigger than Ashes due to intense competitiveness.

Vaughan still thinks Ashes is bigger than BGT

Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan recently wrote a column on Telegraph and opined that nothing can ever come close to the Ashes owing to the history and heritage associated with it. 

"There has been some talk out here and in India that this is now cricket’s greatest rivalry. I disagree. Nothing comes close to the Ashes for the history and heritage. Across almost 150 years the rivalry and hostility between England and Australia runs so deep," Vaughan said.

He instead called the BGT rivalry the best of the present era. However, Vaughan did claim that if India and Australia continue to remain competitive for the next decade, then BGT can perhaps surpass Ashes. 

"It (BGT) is the best series of this era, just as we used to look at West Indies playing in Australia or England as the best of the 1980s. We do not talk about those series now, because West Indies have faded. If Australia and India put together another generation or two of competition like this, perhaps we can have the “greatest rivalry” conversation. For now, give me a break," he added.

That being said, fans largely disagreed with Michael Vaughan’s statement, arguing England has not been competitive since the past 3 Ashes series. Australia have dominated them left, right, and centre, leading to diminishing of rivalry. 



Hence, the majority of fans on the internet believe that Border-Gavaskar Trophy is in fact the biggest rivalry in cricket, even bigger than the iconic Ashes.