Live Cricket Update – AUS vs IND 1st Test – Live blog

On November 22, 2024By Littum

Is this cricket’s greatest rivalry? Who can say, but it’s undeniably a great one. And it has never been more competitive than it has been over the past decade, with Australia and India producing a generation of master players.

Some of them may still be around to compete for the next edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but for most, this series that is about to begin is likely to be the last rumble.

Put yourself in one of their shoes. India begin this long and even more grueling tour than usual with a proud record to protect. They wrestled this trophy back in 2016-17 and have kept a tight grip on it ever since, winning 2-1 four times in a row, including on back-to-back tours of Australia.

All these series were keenly fought but India won each time. Now they arrive in Australia hurt, having seen an unprecedented run of success on home soil end in emphatic circumstances and with key players absent.

However, that appearance of vulnerability will only make Australia extra cautious. They know that look, and they know from four years ago how deceptive it can be. This is one of Australia’s greatest eras, but it also coincided with an inability to beat their nearest rivals, home and away, even when they have been at full strength. Now, with their core group aging all at once, they have what is most likely their last chance to set that record straight.

It’s Cummins vs Bumrah, Kohli vs Smith, it’s Border vs Gavaskar again and it’s coming to you, in about an hour’s time, from the Optus Stadium in Perth.