The excitement for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy is growing. India and Australia are set to face off in a five-match Test series, the first of its kind in over thirty years.

The series is scheduled to commence on November 22 in Perth, and Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc feels it could rival the prestigious Ashes series in terms of significance for his team.

Starc remarked to Wide World of Sports, “With five matches, it’s probably on par with an Ashes series.”

India has won the previous two Test series in Australia and has held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since their victory in March 2017.

Starc aims to end this trend and is determined to achieve a clean sweep against the formidable Indian side. “We always aim to win every home game, and we know India is a very strong team,” said the left-arm pacer.

The outcome of this series could influence the teams’ chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s next year. Currently, India leads the WTC points table, with Australia in second place.

Starc added, “As it stands, we are the top two teams on the Test ladder, so it’s going to be an exciting series for both the fans and the players. Hopefully, by January 8th, we’ll have the trophy back on our shores.”

At 34 years old, Starc is approaching a milestone of 100 Test matches and has no plans to retire from red-ball cricket soon. “Every time I wear the baggy green cap, it feels special. I hope to play five matches this summer, secure five wins, and sing the victory song five times. If I surpass the 100-Test mark, that would be very special too,” he said.

Following the series in England next month, Starc plans to play domestic cricket for New South Wales to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “Tests will always be my priority. We have seven consecutive Tests coming up, including five against India and two in Sri Lanka, so they are top of the agenda,” he stated.

Starc, along with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, forms a crucial part of Australia’s pace attack across all formats. “Pat is taking a break from the UK tour. We enjoy playing all formats, but our availability can vary throughout the year. There’s no set end date for our careers; we’ll continue as long as we’re fit and eager. For now, we’re fully focused on the five Tests against India,” he concluded.