A crowd of Indian cricket fans, many in blue jerseys, behind a row of three Indian flags in the stands during the first Test of the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar series with Jasprit Bumrah, in cricket whites and wearing the blue India cap, in the foreground.

Indian fans cheer for Jasprit Bumrah during the first Test of the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar series. Cricket in Australia has expanded to include Southasian spectators who are very different from traditionally white male crowds of yore.IMAGO/Action Plus

Cricketing rivalry with India can transform Australia’s view of Southasia – and of itself

The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia matters far beyond cricket alone and can update Australian views of Southasia and the Southasian diaspora – if the country cares to pay attention

Benjamin Golby is a cricket writer who otherwise watches oceans as an all-Australian Lifeguard.

Published on:

06 Dec 2024, 11:35 am

“Why did Pat Cummins return to an empty airport after Australia won the World Cup?”

“Why do Australians boo David Warner?”

“Do Australians not like cricket? How? They’re the best at it.”

These are questions I am constantly asked when I am in India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka.

Southasians struggle to fathom Australian customs of following cricket. For a long time in Australia, Subcontinental cricket was a faraway thing, local views of it marked often by disinterest and sometimes by distaste. That has changed profoundly during this century. Indian cricket now makes the fortunes of cricket players and cricket administrations. And the Indian national men’s team regularly beats its international counterparts. Still, the regard that the Australian cricket establishment feels for Indian cricket has not spread to Australia’s general public.

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