On the Australian cricket calendar, the BGT and the Ashes are both major tours: Nick Hockley

In a major disclosure, CEO of Cricket Australia (CA) Nick Hockley stated that the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) is now on par with the venerable Ashes series in terms of financial worth.

The 21st century has witnessed an increase in both popularity and competitiveness for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which is contested between Australia and India. India’s recent victories—winning the last two series in Australia in 2018–19 and 2020–21—have increased the intensity of the rivalry.

The BGT now has a similar prominence to the historic Ashes series between Australia and England because to the rising rivalry between the two.

Hockley highlighted how the two series’ sales are comparable. The CEO also disclosed a noteworthy increase in purchases of tickets for the next season of Big Brother. The Ashes and the Border Gavaskar Trophy are two of the biggest tours in Australian cricket, with enormous TV audiences and excellent crowds that are commercially equivalent. Indian ticket sales are already six times more than those of the last non-COVID series, according to Hockley, who spoke with Hindustan Times.

Australia’s famous cricket grounds are all distinct.

With five Tests for the first time since 1991–1992, the forthcoming BGT series is sure to make history. The series will start on November 22 at Perth Stadium and travel to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

India will play the Prime Minister’s XI in a two-day match at Manuka Oval in Adelaide as a warm-up for the day/night Test. Hockley discussed the various playing conditions found in Australian locations.

“What makes the series so intriguing, including, in more recent years, the introduction of the day-night Test, is that each of Australia’s iconic cricket venues has its own unique pitch characteristics and conditions,” he said.