"Ideal scenario to give a bit of cheek to Mr. Gavaskar" - Australian legend's cheeky statement ahead of BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Former Australia captain Allan Border was surprised to learn that the Baggy Greens had not beaten India in a Test series in the last 10 years. Hence, Border cheekily said he would give Sunil Gavaskar 'a bit of cheek.'

The Aussies last held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) following the 2014-15 series. However, India have come out on top in four consecutive series since then, including two wins Down Under to retain the coveted trophy.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, here's what the Aussie legend said:

"I didn’t realise it had been 10 years. That would be the ideal scenario to give a bit of cheek to Mr. Gavaskar, because he’s been giving it to me for a while. It’d be good to get one back."

In the ongoing five-match series, Australia are on the doorstep of registering a landmark win over India. Pat Cummins and company won the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) by sparking India's collapse in the final session, taking seven wickets. They are leading 2-1, with one match remaining.

"Just took that game to get rid of the rust" - Allan Border on Australia's 295-run loss in Perth

Australia national cricket team. (Credits: Getty)

Border also opined that the hosts have been the better team in the ongoing five-Test series and are the deserving winners of the trophy. In the same interview, the 69-year-old explained:

"We’ve been the better team to date. You wouldn’t say that after the first game, but we went in a bit rusty, [and] hadn’t played Test cricket for eight months. It just took that game to get rid of the rust, and from there we’ve dominated really. So it’d be good to give Pat the trophy on January 7."

The fifth and final Test against India will begin on Friday, January 3, in Sydney. The last time these two teams played a Test in Sydney, the tourists eked out a hard-fought draw.