Former Australian Chinaman spinner, Brad Hogg feels that former India captain Sourav Ganguly was the one who started the fierce rivalry between India and Australia.
Australia-India series has always been the series of high-voltage that has led to some dramas, heated exchange of words, much-magnified controversies, and subsequently the modern-day cricket rivalry between the two cricket-loving nations.
Ongoing India’s tour of Australia is one of many tours, where the desperation to win at all cost has been the cause of a few controversies and sometimes it has gotten better of the players.
The recently concluded third Test at the SCG of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy will always be in talks because the banters, controversies, and determination to do better at all costs provided us with a wonderful Test match.
It was another showcasing of great resilience and grit by Indian players that they are not going to be a pushover in this series like any other touring nation has been.
Referring to the same former Aussie spinner Brad Hogg pointed out that this Indian side has managed to rub the Aussies on the wrong side and said that we don’t like to challenge on our home soil.
"I think India has come to the fore and challenged Australia on their home soil and we don't like to be challenged on our home soil. When we are put under pressure we are vulnerable and we can react differently.
It just showed and proved on the 5th day of the Test match that when u take your mind off the job and you start talking to an opposition batsman, mentioning about seeing at the next game at Gabba, it means we have lost focus and that's what I love about Test cricket and India at the moment are beating us on our own game." Brad Hogg told sports today.
The rivalry between India and Australia has been brewing since the early 2000s. The Aussies were known for their aggressive brand of cricket and dominated the sport for more than a decade.
On the other hand, the Indians were calm composers who tried to focus on the game. But things changed a little when Sourav Ganguly was made the captain of the Indian cricket team in 2000.
India transformed under Ganguly's aggression and started giving back to the Aussies during matches.
Brad Hogg, 49, said that seeds of this Indian aggression were sown by former Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly, when India defeated the Aussies 2-1 at home to end their 16-match winning streak in 2001 and also drew the series 1-1 in Australia in 2003-04.
"Sourav Ganguly was the one who instigated the rivalry. When Australia traveled to India, we always wanted to show our intent, we had our chest puffed out, yes, we were a bit verbal but Sourav Ganguly was probably one of the first captains from India to stay adapted to it and put us on the back foot.
He tested Steve Waugh when he walked out a little late for the coin toss, I don't think he was wearing his blazer at that particular time,” said Brag Hogg.
In 2003/04, Sourav Ganguly led team India won a Test match on Australia soil after 22 years in Adelaide, whereas in 2007/08 under Anil Kumble, they narrowly lost the Test series 1-2.
Barring the 2011/12 and 2014/15 tour, where India was outplayed by the Aussies. They created history by beating Australia 2-1 for the first time in 71 years in India’s tour to Australia in 2018/19.
(Sports Today Inputs)
