Border-Gavaskar Trophy bigger than Ashes commercially? CA CEO Nick Hockley makes huge remark on India vs Australia series

Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley has compared the Ashes with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy - the next series of which is scheduled to be played in late November this year. India are scheduled to play the first of their five Tests from November 22 at the Perth Stadium.

India have won the last two Border-Gavaskar series in Australia in 2019-2020 and 2020-21. They have also won the 2023 home series against Australia 2-1. Heading into the upcoming series, India are topping the WTC points table while Australia are placed second.

Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Nick Hockley has called India’s upcoming five-Test series in Australia ‘largely comparable in commercial terms with the Ashes’. A home series against India is key to Australia's broadcasters's Foxtel and Seven network. The series attracts crowds both at the stadium and also close to the television sets.

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The Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Ashes are both massive tours: Nick Hockley

“The Border Gavaskar Trophy and the Ashes are both massive tours on the Australian cricket calendar and are largely comparable in commercial terms, with fantastic crowds and huge broadcast audiences for each. Ticket sales from India are already six times greater than for the previous non-COVID series," Hockley said in an e-mail interview, as quoted by HT.

Before 2018, it was only in 2003 that India did not finish second-best in Australia, losing three successive Test series in between. India, though, are now a vastly improved Test outfit outside the subcontinent, proving their credentials beyond doubt on the last tour with their woefully under-strength playing eleven scoring a win in the decisive Test at the Gabba. Hockey spoke about the Indian team being given "softer pitches" to play in and denied such claims in the process.

“Australia’s iconic cricket venues each have their own unique pitch characteristics and conditions, which is what makes the series so intriguing, including, in more recent years, the introduction of the day-night Test,” Hockley said.

After the first Test in Perth, Adelaide will host the second Test and it will be a day-night affair. India lost their previous day-night Test in Adelaide in the 2020-21 campaign when they were bowled out for 36. Australia, on the other hand, have won 11 out of their 12 D/N Test matches. Gabba hosts the third Test from December 14 to 18 followed by MCG hosting the Boxing Day Test from December 26 to 30. SCG will host the final Test from January 3 to 7, 2025 to wrap up the series.

Before the second Test in Adelaide, India will play a two-day fixture against Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval, which should serve as a warm-up for the Adelaide pink-ball Test starting December 6. The Indian selectors will also get to witness India A compete in a shadow tour (two four-day matches) scheduled between October 31 and November 10 to firm up the squad. The A team will then play a three-day intra-squad match against the main squad, starting November 15 at the WACA.

Australia are on a break from international cricket at the moment and will begin their home series with the Test series against India. The Test series is now given a marquee status with fans from both teams eagerly waiting for the next series to begin.

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