File-breaking attendance in Border-Gavaskar Trophy leaves Ravi Shastri, Ricky Ponting in awe

Former cricket stars Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting have praised the record-breaking attendance on the current five-match Take a look at collection between India and Australia. They prompt this rivalry may now surpass the Ashes in significance.
Australia triumphed 3-1, ending India’s decade-long dominance of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The collection attracted a outstanding 837,000 spectators throughout the 5 Exams.

Former India coach Shastri described the rivalry between the 2 groups as “unreal” within the fashionable period.
“One stat stands out: 375,000 folks coming by means of the gates in that Melbourne Take a look at match, beating the report set 90 years in the past of 350,000,” Shastri mentioned on ‘The ICC Overview’.
“(In) 1936/1937, when the ‘G’ may maintain 120,000 folks and when Bradman was taking part in.
“It simply goes to point out the sudden curiosity within the fashionable period. The bar has been raised. The bar has been raised massive time.”

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“For folks to get on the market and watch cricket when there may be tv, when there may be OTT platforms, the place all that’s there, nonetheless for 375,000 folks to come back (to Melbourne) after which replicate that in Sydney with full homes, it is unreal,” Shastri added.
Shastri, who coached India throughout their consecutive Take a look at collection wins in Australia in 2017-18 and 2020-21, additionally recommended Australian captain Pat Cummins.
“He (Cummins) amazes me,” mentioned the previous India all-rounder.
“Even once I was the coach within the dressing room, I’d simply admire his dedication, his willingness to compete. He by no means offers up and it is like that session after session – he’ll come at you with the ball.
“And simply when the chips had been down, numerous occasions within the collection, he rose to the event. And never simply with the ball, however with the bat as properly.”
Ponting echoed Shastri’s sentiments, emphasising the unprecedented attendance numbers in Australia.
“So now that this collection has occurred, Australia have England popping out subsequent summer time so we’ll get a greater concept then. If the numbers aren’t the identical, then there will be little question that the (Border-Gavaskar) rivalry (is larger), actually from the followers’ standpoint.
“There’s two separate elements to this: There’s what the followers need to see and the rivalry that they need to make of it, however it’s additionally how the gamers view the rivalry between the three groups now,” Ponting mentioned.
Ponting famous that the attendance figures may have been even greater if not for climate interruptions and early finishes.
“Perth solely went 4 days, Adelaide solely went three days, Sydney solely went three days. These numbers would have been astronomical if these Take a look at matches all went 5 days. So precisely this time subsequent 12 months, we’ll have an incredible concept of the largest rivalry in world cricket.
“The followers, understanding how good these two cricket groups are, need to be there and need to be a part of it and need to see Take a look at match cricket at its very best,” Ponting mentioned.
“Proper now, it is actually arduous to argue that this is not the largest rivalry in world cricket. It is grown.
“12 months on 12 months and Ravi (Shastri) and I, we have been part of most of those the final 15, 20 years. We have felt the way it’s been rising and rising and the rivalry will get greater and now the followers are into it as properly.”
Ponting additionally praised Australia’s means to bounce again after a loss.
“While you lose a Take a look at match (in Perth) like that in opposition to one other very sturdy opposition aspect, you do must do a little bit of soul looking out and do numerous speaking,” he mentioned.
“It has been a extremely good turnaround, particularly when initially of the collection, I assumed Australia would win 3-1, however I really thought they’d win the early Take a look at matches.
“I assumed they’d win Perth, I assumed they’d win Brisbane and doubtless Adelaide and discover it more durable in Melbourne and Sydney.
“The circumstances that you simply suppose India would usually play higher in, Australia’s discovered a approach to outplay them in Melbourne and Sydney.
“It was a extremely good turnaround and one that they’re going to be pleased with.”