This year the series has been expanded to five Test matches, a first since the 1991-92 season, and is set to commence in November.”Being five matches now it’s probably right on par with an Ashes series,” Starc told Wide World of Sports.
Australia have been unable to win the Border Gavsakar Trophy since the 2014-15 season, with India achieving victory in four straight series, which includes their momentous successes in Australia during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours.
Starc is determined not only to change this pattern but also has ambitions of achieving a complete whitewash, especially considering the significance of this series in the context of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. India are currently No. 1 and Australia No. 2 in the WTC points table.
“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.”
With just 11 more caps, Starc will join an elite group of cricketers who have played 100 Test matches. The 34-year-old has no intention of hanging up his boots in the longest format of the game and has made a conscious decision to reduce his involvement in limited-overs cricket in order to maintain his longevity and effectiveness in the red-ball arena.
“…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,” he said.
Starc is scheduled to be in England in the coming month to participate in a series of limited-overs matches. Upon the conclusion of the white-ball fixtures, the southpaw has plans to return home and represent New South Wales in domestic competitions.
“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.”
Starc will lead Australia’s attack, which will also prominent feature 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.”
