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Bigger Than Ashes? English Legend's Big Statement On India vs Australia Rivalry

Akshita Patel

BGT is being compared to Ashes by former cricketers [Source: @OneCricketApp/X.com]BGT is being compared to Ashes by former cricketers [Source: @OneCricketApp/X.com]

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Former England skipper Mike Atherton has sparked a debate in the cricketing fraternity with a controversial statement on the growing aura of Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Speaking ahead of the Perth Test to The Times, Atherton said BGT has caught up to the iconic Ashes series between Australia and England in terms of overall sporting reach and commercial impact.

Ashes is one of cricket’s oldest and most storied rivalries, dating back to 1882. Australia and England were believed to be two biggest cricket nations in the world and their clash in the Test format generated the highest views in the sport. However, Ashes’ hype has been seeing signs of decline in the last couple of years, especially after the emergence of Australia’s rivalry with India.

India’s winning streak in the Border Gavaskar Trophy since 2016 has given new dimensions to the Test format. After the iconic series in 2020/21, the men in blue are on a mission to repeat history this year in the upcoming 5-game Test series against Australia.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy's hype reaches England!

Ahead of the opening Test in Perth, scheduled for November 22, the comparisons of Ashes to Border-Gavaskar Trophy have gained momentum. Former England captain Mike Atherton spoke to The Times and opined that BGT has caught up to Ashes in terms of sporting and commercial impact. Fans are engaged with the series even before it begins and the sale of tickets has scaled a new high. 

"In terms of both commercial and sporting impact, the Border Gavaskar Trophy has caught up with the rivalry between England and Australia," Atherton said.

While the Ashes remains the heartbeat of cricket's heritage, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has, arguably, become the most compelling modern rivalry. This statement by Atherton seems to hint at some new paradigm in international cricket wherein India-Australia contests could soon eclipse the Ashes for prestige.

Why is BGT 2024/25 important for India?

For India, WTC 2025 final hopes hinge on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 as they have won 4 of the 5 games to qualify for third successive WTC final. On the other hand, BCCI is mulling a complete shift towards youth after the whitewash against New Zealand at home. Meaning, the underperforming seniors face a make or break series. India’s Test setup could witness a complete overhaul in case of a disaster outing.