No Asian team had defeated Australia in a Test series in Australia until India did it in 2018/19. That historic triumph was repeated, and in a more spectacular, unfathomable fashion in 2020/21.
Australia losing two home series – to any team, let alone an Asian side – was a big humiliation for them. They are now on the Indian shores for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.
Australia have lost the last three series against India – twice at home and in 2017 in India – and are desperate to get hold of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, not only for the bragging rights, but also to add to the legacy of some of their marquee, senior players, for this is one frontier Australia haven’t manage to claim for 18 years.
Not to forget, the result of this series will also have significant implications to the chances of both the teams reaching the WTC final.
Here are 3 players who could prove to be the biggest match-winners for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023:
Steve Smith
There is not a bigger superstar the Indian fans will be watching keenly than Steve Smith in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. For Smith has had a terrific record against India in Tests.
Against India, Steve Smith averages a whopping 72 in 14 Tests, having hit 8 hundreds and 5 fifties
Even in India, Smith averages 60 with 3 centuries. He was Australia’s best batsman on the 2017 tour, with centuries in Pune and Dharamsala.
Along with Labuschagne, the number 1 Test batsman currently, Steve Smith will be the biggest challenge for the Indian bowlers.
Nathan Lyon
Hailed as one of the greatest off-spinners of all time, Nathan Lyon has taken 460 Test wickets out of which 238 have come in Australia. Lyon has enjoyed bowling in India, picking up 34 wickets with 3 five-fers in 7 Tests at 30 – his average, though, he’d want to improve on this tour, where Australia will hope that their premier spinner steps up big time.
If Australia have to return home with a satisfactory result – not necessarily a series win – Nathan Lyon has to perform brilliantly. Australia’s success on this tour hinges heavily on Lyon’s success.
Usman Khawaja
While the attention will be on Warner, Smith, and Labuschange, Khawaja could hurt India as much as any of those three, even better.
Since returning to the Test team in the last Ashes, where he creamed twin centuries in a single Test, Khawaja has been on a roll, and eventually ended with the Australia’s Best Men’s Test Player of the Year award.
Since returning to the Test side in January last year, Khawaja has been the leading Test run-scorer in, accumulating 1275 runs in 12 Tests at 79, hitting 5 centuries and 5 fifties.
Apart from his superb form coming into the series, the reason Khawaja becomes a key threat for India is that, after perhaps only Steve Smith, Khawaja is regarded as Australia’s best player of spin.
