Former Australia coach John Buchanan reckoned the 2024-25 five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a real test for players physically as well as mentally. Though he feels the Australians have a good chance at home, he opines that India’s performance in the series will depend on how the visitors’ top-order batsmen perform Down Under.

The first Test will be held in Perth starting from November 22. “It’s going to be a classic series. Five Tests, which is one more Test than played previously, does make a difference because by the time they reach Sydney [for fifth Test starting on January 3], both teams would have played presumably four hard Test matches. So that’s going to test everybody physically and mentally,” Buchanan told reporters on the sidelines of a launch of the Ready Steady Go Kids program at the CP Goenka International School in Andheri on Thursday.