The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is gearing up for an exciting start on November 22 with the first Test match between Australia and India in Perth. India, the winners of the last two Test series in Australia, will be looking to continue their dominance. Meanwhile, the Australian team, led by Pat Cummins, will aim to break this streak and reclaim the trophy.
India’s batting line-up, featuring stars like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli, has faced challenges in recent times. Young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Abhimanyu Easwaran are still gaining experience in the Test format. This leaves the Indian batting order looking somewhat uncertain.
Australia’s pace attack, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, along with spinner Nathan Lyon, will look to exploit this vulnerability. They also have their eyes on major personal milestones in this series.
Key Milestones Australian Bowlers Could Achieve in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
1. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood Close to 500 International Wickets
Both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are just 22 wickets away from reaching 500 international scalps. Cummins currently has 478 wickets across formats (269 in Tests, 143 in ODIs, and 66 in T20Is). Similarly, Hazlewood’s tally stands at 478 as well (273 in Tests, 138 in ODIs, and 67 in T20Is).
2. 300 Test Wickets for Cummins and Hazlewood
Cummins is only 31 Test wickets short of the 300 mark, while Hazlewood needs 27 more. With India’s batting form in question, this could be a realistic achievement for both pacers during the series.
3. First Pacer to 200 WTC Wickets – Pat Cummins
Cummins is also chasing a unique milestone in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). With 175 WTC wickets so far, he needs 25 more to become the first fast bowler to cross the 200-mark in WTC history.
4. Nathan Lyon Could Be the First Bowler to 200 WTC Wickets
Nathan Lyon is equally close to this milestone, with 187 WTC wickets to his name. He is just 13 away from reaching 200 wickets. However, India’s Ravichandran Ashwin, with 194 WTC wickets, might beat him to it unless Lyon strikes early in the series.
5. Mitchell Starc Nears 700 International Wickets
Mitchell Starc, one of Australia’s top pacers, has 681 international wickets (358 in Tests, 244 in ODIs, and 79 in T20Is). He needs just 19 more to join the elite club of Australian bowlers with 700 wickets, which includes legends like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Brett Lee.
An Exciting Series Awaits
With Australia’s bowlers aiming for these significant milestones and India looking to defend their Border-Gavaskar streak, fans can expect a thrilling contest. The battle between Australia’s world-class bowling attack and India’s determined batting unit will surely keep cricket enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.
Also Read: India-Australia Clash In Perth: A Look Back At Memorable Battles
