Starc and Australia have not won the Border Gavaskar Trophy in four attempts since the 2014-15 season. (REUTERS)
Australia seamer Mitchell Starc believes that the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India becoming a five-Test affair for the first time in over 30 years puts the contest on the same pedestal as the Ashes series for his team.
The marquee series between India and Australia, set to begin in November, was extended by a match this year for the first time since the 1991-92 season.
“Being five matches now it’s probably right on par with an Ashes series,” Starc told Wide World of Sports.
Australia have failed to win the Border Gavsakar Trophy in four successive series since 2014-15, with India claiming historic series wins Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21. In the previous series in 2023-24 in India, Rohit Sharma’s side emerged victorious 2-1.
Starc is not only intent on reversing this trend but also harbours aspirations of a clean sweep, particularly as the series forms a crucial part of the World Test Championship. India, who finished runners-up behind Australia in the previous cycle, currently lead the standings. Australia are placed second on the table with 14 series pending in the cycle.
“We always want to win every game at home and we know India are a very strong team,” he said. “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.”
Starc who has featured in 89 Tests and claimed 358 wickets said he will aim to prolong his his red-ball career while going light on white-ball duties.
“…every time I get to wear the baggy green cap it feels very special. Hopefully it’s five times through 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 special as well,” the 34-year-old said.
Starc is targetting to represent the New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy which begins in November after Australia’s white-ball tour to United Kingdom next month.
“The Tests will always be taking precedence for me,” he said.
“We’ve got seven Tests on the bounce with five against India and then two in Sri Lanka, so they sit top of the tree with what’s coming up.”
Star continues to form the crux of Australia’s pace attack alongside Test captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
“Pat is resting for this UK tour… we love playing all three formats but that could look different at different times over 12 months.”
“There is certainly no end date on (our bowling careers). That will be an ongoing one. We’ll see where (our) bodies are and the want to keep going, but at this stage it’s all guns blazing for five Tests against India,” Starc remarked.
