"I disagree. Nothing comes close to the Ashes" - Michael Vaughan on claims that BGT is cricket's "greatest rivalry"
Former England captain-turned-pundit Michael Vaughan has rejected opinions that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is cricket's "greatest rivalry". He said on Thursday that the "history and heritage" of the Ashes and 150 years of rivalry make it clear.
The debate became hot on social media after comments from some pundits, like Mark Waugh, and journalists comparing the two rivalries. India and Australia will play the first Test of a highly-anticipated series on Friday, November 22, in Perth.
"There has been some talk out here and in India that this is now cricket’s greatest rivalry," Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph. "I disagree. Nothing comes close to the Ashes for the history and heritage. Across almost 150 years the rivalry and hostility between England and Australia runs so deep."
Vaughan added that he'd "concede" that the India-Australia series have been more entertaining and competitive than the Ashes, though one team (India in BGT since 2014 and Australia in the Ashes since 2015) has held each trophy for 10 years.
"It (BGT) is the best series of this era, just as we used to look at West Indies playing in Australia or England as the best of the 1980s. We do not talk about those series now, because West Indies have faded. If Australia and India put together another generation or two of competition like this, perhaps we can have the “greatest rivalry” conversation. For now, give me a break."
Australia have won 20 and India 24 Tests in the Trophy, which only began in 1996-97. India have won the BGT 10 times, while Australia have taken it home five. In the Ashes, which began in 1883, Australia have won 142 and England 110, while the Aussies have won the series two more times than the English.
Australia will not get another chance to beat this Indian generation: Michael Vaughan
Writing further, Vaughan re-expressed his surprise at Australia losing the last BGT at home and called their current record a "blot." He also said this is Pat Cummins and company's best chance to win against "this Indian generation."
"Australia simply have to win because they will not have another chance to beat this Indian generation. Australia have a genuinely great bowling attack, perhaps the best Australian attack I have seen. Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee and Shane Warne were brilliant, but this quartet of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon are right up with them," Vaughan said.
"Not beating India since 2014 is a blot on their record, though. It is extraordinary that Australia failed to win the last series at home, especially after they bowled India out for 36 in the first Test. It was more understandable that they lost in 2018-19, when David Warner and Steve Smith were on the naughty step," he concluded.
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