“Hopefully when we’re sitting there on the 8th of January we have that trophy back on our shores” – Mitchell Starc upbeat about upcoming India Tests

Australia’s gun fast bowler Mitchell Starc is hopeful of regaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy against India. India has won the Test series against Australia on the last two tours and the home team will be determined to prove their mettle in the upcoming series.

India won their maiden Test series on Australian soil on 2018-19 tour under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. Subsequently, India had their backs against the wall, losing the opening Test match at Adelaide after bundling out for 36 runs. However, Ajinkya Rahane-led made an inspiring comeback to take the series by 2-1, registering wins at Melbourne and Brisbane.

Meanwhile, Starc doesn’t have a great Test record while playing against Australia. The left-arm pacer has scalped 48 wickets in 18 Test matches at an average of 38.54 and he will want to turn a corner. 

“Being five matches now it’s probably right on par with an Ashes series. We always want to win every game at home and we know India are a very strong team. 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,” said Starc while speaking to Wide World of Sports.

Starc also added that Test cricket will always take precedence over the limited-overs format for him.

“The Tests will always be taking precedence for me. 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. The schedule is pretty fluid… the three quicks in particular, Josh (Hazlewood), Pat (Cummins) and I, we all play three formats so it might look differently for each of us,” said Starc in the same interaction.

The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played at Perth from November 22 onwards.