Bigger than the Ashes? Why India could usurp England as Australia’s biggest rivals starting this summer

For the first time in more than three decades Australia play India in a five-Test series, giving this series an Ashes-type billing. And it has all the ingredients to challenge that rivalry, writes DANIEL CHERNY.

Once in a blue moon? Well how about once in a blue hair? That’s how far back you have to go since the last time Australia played a five-Test series against an opposition other than England.

It was January 2001 and Colin “Funky” Miller sent West Indian great Courtney Walsh into a fit of laughter when the Australian bowler revealed a dyed blue look to start day two of the SCG Test.

The Aussies were on their way to a 5-0 whitewash of Jimmy Adams’ lamentable Windies, with series against the former powerhouse dropping in subsequent years from four Tests, to three and these days to two.

The famous blue hair of Colin Miller featured in the last Test of a five-match series, not against England. Picture: Supplied

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When India had toured the previous summer, they were swept 3-0 by Steve Waugh’s all-conquering side. That is the last time in the foreseeable future that India would play such a brief Test series on these shores. Since then four has been the standard fare, but for Cricket Australia, too much India is never enough.

That brings us to this modern-day battle royale, five Tests between Australia and India for the first time since the 1991-92 summer, putting it on equal footing with the Ashes, at least in terms of length.

Sachin Tendulkar was a teenager the last time Australia played India in a five-Test series. Picture: Joe Mann/ Allsport/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

As played out last year in the UK, Ashes series still have an ability to ignite dramas and culture wars that extend all the way to Prime Ministerial offices.

But in terms of gravitas, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy wants for little. As Test cricket gets marginalised elsewhere, this series is only becoming more of a headline act. If beating England appeals to psyche of the Australian sporting fan by putting the Motherland in its place, then India’s overwhelming financial and political cricketing clout allows for Australia’s underdog complex to get another work out.

The historical significance of sporting achievements can be measured in the droughts that preceded them. It is why John Bertrand and Ben Lexcen are sporting immortals in this country, ditto the Socceroos that ended 31 years of hurt by delivering World Cup qualification in late 2005.

On that front there is a sizeable lure for the Aussies heading into this series. For a team that wins a lot, Australia has not beaten India in a Test series since 2014-15.

The last time Australia beat India in a Test series was 2014/15 in a series which saw Steve Smith score runs for fun with 769 in the four Tests. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

India has won all four subsequent series, at home in 2017 and 2023 and more significantly in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Remarkably all four series have finished 2-1 with a draw, highlighting that while India has held sway, the margins have been relatively fine.

Pat Cummins has led Australia to an Ashes series win, World Test Championship crown and one-day World Cup glory, but when asked earlier this year about what still motivates him, he identified beating India in a Test series for the first time as a big-ticket goal.

Certain Asian sides have proven cannon fodder in Australia over the years, but that cannot be said any more of India. The breakthrough triumph six years ago may have come against a weakened Aussie outfit missing Steve Smith and David Warner following ball tampering suspensions but there could be no hint of an asterisk two years later when the tourists defied a huge injury toll and the extended absence of captain Virat Kohli to claim a come-from-behind win on the series’ final day. That India had done so despite the ignominy of being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, and then stormed the Gabba fortress to end Australia’s 32-year unbeaten Test run at the venue, catapulted the India’s effort into the upper echelon of away Test series wins.

Virat Kohli is one of several players under pressure as India head to Australia for the five-Test series. Picture: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP

And yet India arrives Down Under on shaky ground. Stunned 3-0 at home by New Zealand, veterans Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and of course Kohli are under mounting pressure as a collective end beckons.

Suddenly India’s chances of returning to the WTC final in a quest to go one better than 2021 and 2023.

There are question marks over the Aussies too though. With the overwhelming majority of the side having turned 30, Cummins’ men arrive in Perth having not played a Test since beating the Black Caps in March. Usman Khawaja is rising 38 while Steve Smith is 35. The end can come suddenly for batters once they get into that age range, while an exceptionally accomplished attack will require a mighty effort to get through a whole Summer like they managed in 2023-24.

Originally published as Bigger than the Ashes? Why India could usurp England as Australia’s biggest rivals starting this summer