Star Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is eager to beat India in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Notably, Australia will host India for a five-match Test series from 22 November. India have had an upper hand over the Aussies in the last four series played between the two teams having beaten them on four all occasions.
Australia last beat India in a bilateral Test series in 2014-15 by 2-0 under the leadership of Michael Clarke and Virat Kohli. Ahead of the upcoming highly anticipated encounter between the two sides, Hazlewood is desperate to tick off probably one last thing remaining in Australia’s dominant run in international cricket over the past few years.
“There are quite a few players who have never beaten India in a Test series. It’s quite astounding to say that. That’s one we need to tick off, definitely, in particular at home – we should pretty much win every series here at home,” was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
Further speaking ahead, Hazlewood recalled the famous Adelaide Test from 2020-21 BGT series where they bundled them out for their lowest score of 36. However, the 33-year-old acknowledged India’s ‘unbelievable’ depth in all three formats calling their B side sometimes even stronger than their best team.
“That last series we obviously bowled them out for 36 in Adelaide and we thought here we go, [we are] back at home [and] confident on these grounds. People say we played India B in that last Test, but they can sometimes be stronger than the best team. They’ve got unbelievable depth in all formats and we are starting to see that now,” he added.
India’s historic win in 2020-21
After facing a horrific loss in the first Test by eight wickets, India made a comeback for the ages in Australia as they won the next Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) without regular skipper Virat Kohli. Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane scored a phenomenal hundred and led his team from the front helping them make a remarkable comeback.
Further India drew the third Test in Sydney with Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari playing out the overs late on Day 5. India closed the series in a dramatic fashion registering a historic win at the Gabba in Brisbane. Having won the last two series down under, India will look to complete a hat trick of wins in Australia.