Updated Border-Gavaskar Trophy unveiled, new scholarships announced
The start of the 1999/2000 Ansett Australia Test series between Australia and India was marked on Friday by the announcement of an updated Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Trophy, the original of which was first played for in 1996/97, is named after the former Australian captain Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar, the former captain of India, and will be held by the winners of Test cricket series between the two sides.
India are the current holders having won the previous series 2-1 at home in 1997/98.
Much of the money for the design and production of the modernised Trophy has been supplied by the Australia-India Council (AIC), a body formed in 1992 to help foster ties between the two countries.
The AIC has also made available an $A18000 scholarship fund to allow three promising young Indian cricketers to attend the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy (CBCA) in 2000, the first year of what the AIC hope will be a long-term scheme.
Commenting on the updated Trophy and announcement of the AIC scholarship fund, Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman Denis Rogers said: “It is entirely appropriate that Australia and India will be competing for a prize named after Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar, two of the greatest players ever to grace the cricketing stage.
"Both men are giants of the game and their deeds will surely act as an inspiration to the players of both countries, both now and in the future, to match the standards set by Allan and Sunil".
"Thanks to the generosity of the Australia-India Council, some Indian stars of the future will also get the chance to attend the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy".
"A scholarship like this, that allows young players to experience different conditions from the ones they are used to, can only help to make those youngsters into better players. And that must benefit not only Indian cricket, but also the future good health of the game at international level."
Chairman of the AIC, Michael Abbott QC said: "The Australia-India Council promotes understanding and co-operation between Australia and India through projects and exchanges between the two countries in many areas, including sport. The AIC is proud to be associated with both the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the cricketing scholarships, and we are sure both projects will help us achieve that aim."
Allan Border said: "I find it an enormous honour to have my name associated with such an important sporting clash as one between Australia and India. Tests between the two sides are a highlight in any cricketing calendar, and I'm certain this summer’s matches will produce more top-class cricket in keeping with the proud tradition of matches between the two sides in past years."
Sunil Gavaskar said: "I am immensely proud and honoured to have my name used on a sporting prize of this stature. Series between Australia and India have always been special, exciting and intense affairs, and with such a superb Trophy for the winners, I am sure that will remain the case both this summer and in the future."
Border and Gavaskar are the leading batsmen in the history of Test cricket. Gavaskar’s total of 10,122 runs in 125 Tests is bettered by just one man, Allan Border, who scored 11,174 runs in 156 matches.
The updated Trophy weighs 6 kilograms, is approximately 600 millmetres high and is made from chrome-plated aluminium with a timber base.
The AIC was formed in 1992 to broaden the relationship between Australia and India by encouraging and supporting contacts and increasing levels of knowledge and understanding between the peoples and institutions of the two countries. Allan Border was an inaugural member of the AIC from 1992 to 1995. Sunil Gavaskar is an inaugural member of the AIC’s Indian equivalent, the India Australia Council, formed in 1995.
© 1999 Australian Cricket Board
| Test Teams | Australia, India. |
| Players/Umpires | Allan Border, Sunny Gavaskar. |
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