Photo Credit: Twitter Profile Photo of HockleyNick
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley described India’s upcoming five-Test series in Australia as ‘commercially comparable to the Ashes,’ as reported by Hindustan Times. The series is set to begin on November 22 at Perth Stadium.
A home series against India is a significant element of CA’s AUD$ 1.5 billion broadcast deal with Foxtel and Seven network. The large Indian diaspora and the commercial appeal of the visiting players also contribute to opportunities in tourism, trade, and investment.
The series is highly anticipated, as the top two teams on the World Test Championship table face off, with India aiming for a historic third consecutive series win in Australia after their victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
“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,” said Hockley.
Some concerns have been raised in Australian cricket circles regarding India being provided with softer pitches compared to the past. Before 2018, India had not won a Test series in Australia since 2003, losing three consecutive series in between. However, India has since become a much stronger Test team outside the subcontinent, as demonstrated by their last tour, where an under-strength Indian team secured a decisive win at the Gabba.
“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 added.
The second Test will be a day-night match, where Australia has a strong record, winning 11 of 12 pink-ball Tests at home. CA announced a two-day warm-up match for India against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval (Nov 30-Dec 1) before the pink-ball Test in Adelaide on December 6. India was dismissed for 36 in their last Adelaide day-night Test.
To finalize the squad, Indian selectors will observe India A in a shadow tour with two four-day matches (Oct 31-Nov 10), followed by a three-day intra-squad match against the main squad on November 15 at the WACA.
