Re: Most Popular/Important Test Series'?

by Bradman Thu 04 Jun 2009, 03:28

I think both sides are more scared of losing this contest than winning, thus the boring strategy.

by lardbucket Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:19

taipan wrote:
Hass wrote:
horace wrote:

in recent times the best quality and most engrossing series for cricket fans everywhere must surely have been saffies v oz

That's true, which makes it all the more disappointing they haven't played a proper 5-match series since readmission.

The series between South Africa and Australia seem to be over before they start, and back-to-back 3-test series are a poor substitute.

Unfortunately a 5 test series is impossible unless CA drops the obsession with the Boxing Day test.

Surely South Africa just needs to suck it up ... then we can have a decent 5 test series over here. Could probably be arranged?

by Henry Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:23

The best and most fiercely contested test series these days are the Ashes, England v South Africa, and Australia v South Africa.

Attendance-wise, the Ashes is ahead by a distance.

Since Ganguly and Kumble retired, Harbhajan was dropped, and both teams promised to be good, India v Australia has been flat, whilst India v Pakistan has seemed like a peace mission in recent times, with both players and politicians from both sides doing their best to appear friendly, and on the field, I think it's the case. The Indian and Pakistani players actually get on pretty well.

by skully Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:31

Aye Trev. More eye-gouging needed. This "no, you first" palaver is boring. Jumbo did nobody any favours (least of all Test cricket) with his lamentable sooking after THAT Sydney Test.

by The One Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:46

Henry wrote:Attendance-wise, the Ashes is ahead by a distance.

not eye-ball wise

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/the-current-test-series-against-india-is-a-massive-turn-on-for-australian-cricketing-fans/story-fn67w6pa-1226238847017

by The One Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:48

india vs pakistan is a no-go for the forseeable future. the last series was in 2007 iirc

by skully Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:48

I think all that says, TO, is that the Aus public likes a contest and Aus winning, neither of which we provided during the Ashes. Having said that, I would always add Aus v India to Trev's list of biggest series.

by Henry Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:49

The Aussies like watching a team they know they can beat. Wink

by skully Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:53

I think Aussies have been generally buoyed by the success of the newish bowling attack after several seasons of abject mediocrity. We like a contest and would rather go to the beach than watch our side meakly surrender to the opposition, as happened in Melbourne and Sydney during the Ashes.

by The One Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:54

sounds like some forummers Laughing

by Henry Mon 09 Jan 2012, 09:56

This current series has hardly been much of a contest.

by The One Mon 09 Jan 2012, 10:06

it was for most of the 1st test

the 2nd was a massacre

by skully Mon 09 Jan 2012, 10:18

Indeed TO. The 1st Test was an excellent contest, that drew large crowds and good ratings, which lead perfectly into the Sydney Test with many people on holidays. Perfect conditions for good ratings. Add the good bowling on Day 1 to the monumental partnerships on Days 2 and 3 = massive TV numbers. I know I didn't miss a ball.

by Merlin Mon 09 Jan 2012, 12:23

horace wrote:

in recent times the best quality and most engrossing series for cricket fans everywhere must surely have been saffies v oz

I wonder why horrie ?!!
Is it perhaps because of the fact that Aus have been spanked recently by the Poms?!

by lardbucket Mon 09 Jan 2012, 12:25

Is 3-1 a spanking? Has it always been thus? What is it called when you do worse?

by Merlin Mon 09 Jan 2012, 12:27

lardbucket wrote:Is 3-1 a spanking? Has it always been thus? What is it called when you do worse?

A Three series win .... was my reference point.

by Henry Mon 09 Jan 2012, 12:28

Any Aussie who says that the Ashes isn't the biggest test series for Australians is lying. Ditto any Englishman/woman.

Ultimately, both the English and Australian teams are more often than not judged by their performance in an Ashes series.

by lardbucket Mon 09 Jan 2012, 12:28

Just making sure the instrument is correctly calibrated ...

by Brass Monkey Mon 09 Jan 2012, 12:40

lardbucket wrote:Is 3-1 a spanking? Has it always been thus? What is it called when you do worse?

No, it's not a spanking as a series result... one could argue that three innings defeats and records aplenty tumbling could construe it as a spanking. If you'd won at Sydney then it'd have been 2-2. Instead, you got bukkaked though.

by Invader Zim Mon 09 Jan 2012, 12:47

So a 'spanking' is more than a 'flogging'? Cos we got flogged in 2005 and that was 2-1.

So what's 5-0 then? A 'raping'?

by Merlin Mon 09 Jan 2012, 12:53

Yep it was ... and Aus shot their bolt in one swell foop!

Nuthin' doing since huh?!

by lardbucket Fri 13 Jan 2012, 23:16

DJ_Smerk wrote:Okay, so lets try and rank which tours are the most popular and most important to Test cricket. Which Series leaves us all gasping for breath due to the magnitude of discussion points?

1. The Ashes (obviously, many things in the Cricketing world regarding Eng and Aus are built around this series)
2. India vs Pakistan (Neighbouring rivalries never fail to deliver drama and intensity, whether it be in the sweltering heat of Chennai or the close humidity of Karachi, this is massively hyped and talked about amongst many members of the Sub continent and worldwide)
3. Australia vs India (massive talking points in the last series, both teams portrayed a heated rivalry on both home and away legs of the tour)
4. South Africa vs Australia (a pendulum series where both teams produced results in every test outing, showing either sides power in different playing departments. There were more twists in the SAF/Aus series than a J.R.R Tolkien novel)
5. England vs India (When England actually turn up they can usually sprout a surprise victory, note: Mumbai 2006; but usually India dominate under the heated Indian conditions (with spinners) or acclimatise to English conditions with fast swing bowlers)
6. West Indies vs Australia (back when West Indies dominated, this would be one of the most talked up series of the year, especially when the dominating fast bowlers from the Windies would land on Australian soil, ready to bowl fast, cause damage and ask questions later)
7. South Africa vs England (many tours between the two teams have shown awesome skill from either side, and usually contains some awe-inspiring batting and bowling)
8. Pakistan vs England (usually an exciting series, containing quality from both sides, but somehow always gets marred by controversy whether its ball tampering allegations, slow over-rates or poor umpiring)
9. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka (an underdog series, but can usually surprise all with the test cricket from both sides, its almost like Australia vs India, but on a smaller scale)
10. Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe (a battle of the minnows, who knows what could happen)

Obviously, this is just something I've put together in about 30-40 minutes. When I get more time I shall probably chop and change many of these.

Probably get people uttering (any tour with our team in it is the best)

imo

01. Australia v England
02. Australia v South Africa
03. Australia v India
04. England v South Africa
05. Australia v West Indies
06. South Africa v India
07. England v India
08. England v West Indies
09. India v Pakistan (historically too many draws on too many flat wickets to engage outside interest, or would be higher)
10. India v West Indies (some cracking series between these two teams, especially in the Caribbean)

by Allan D Fri 13 Jan 2012, 23:22

This (English) summer should definitely see 04 go above 03 depending on how well the Saffies travel but why, o why, only 3 Tests whilst 4 have been given to the past-their-sell-by date Windies in the second half of the season? Even their supporters don't fill the grounds any more so there cannot be a commercial motive. Obviously a desire by the ECB to hold onto that No.1 ranking.

by Brass Monkey Sat 14 Jan 2012, 09:54

England v SA is usually a good neutrally one due to the closeness of results, the Seths usually having more ability but having less prospensity to seize the moment.

by G.Wood Sat 14 Jan 2012, 11:24

meh it's too much like Possibles v Probables to garner any outside interest

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