SPORTS

India-Australia series could mirror Ashes

November 01, 2004 21:34 IST

Cricket Australia chairman Bob Merriman said moves are underway to ensure that the fight for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is held every second year, mirroring Australia's Ashes campaigns.

Merriman said neither the Australian or Indian board has signed on the ICC's 10-year plan, according to which Australia's next visit to India is in 2010.

"We want to see Australia's program with India being on a four-yearly cycle, with one team visiting the other every two years," Merriman told AAP.

"That's the perfect scenario, and I think everyone in the game would like to see that. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become an important part of the calendar, an icon series. It really took off over here [in India] in 2001 and it continued in Australia last summer. The interest is huge and we have to recognise that. Travelling back to India in 2008 is certainly an avenue we will be vigorously pursuing."

But just because the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is becoming bigger by the minute does not mean that it has become as important as the Ashes.

"We are not bringing Australia and India on a par with the Ashes -- you don't create 120-odd years of history overnight," he said.

India are currently scheduled to tour Australia in 2007-08.

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