Ashes - the most overrated sporting contest?

[WeightOfTheWorld]

Seriously. Ashes this...ashes that....

The cricket this summer has been forgettable.

2 day test matches; ramp shots; tailenders opening and batting at 3.

This aint test cricket. This is a joke and it is a disgrace to the history of the Ashes.

Yes. Lots of injured players but this contest has been second rate....as it was in 2023 and 2020/21.

Both teams need to pull their finger out and play some proper cricket.

 

[Gethelred]

This is a spectacular dummy spit.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Shocking series from both teams really. Atmosphere is always good when we play each other though and the tourism boost massive.

 

[cats_09]

 

[WeightOfTheWorld]

This is a spectacular dummy spit.

Dummy spit is it? What about all the people who have saved their money and planned trips around an iconic sporting event.....a

Yeah....players on the drink 72 hours before the game....hit and giggle.

What about the fans and the public?

 

[Gethelred]

Dummy spit is it? What about all the people who have saved their money and planned trips around an iconic sporting event.....a

Yeah....players on the drink 72 hours before the game....hit and giggle.

What about the fans and the public?

We lost a game of cricket, and you're calling for a reassessment of the biggest series in cricket's history's importance. It's an overreaction at the very least.

 

[WeightOfTheWorld]

We lost a game of cricket, and you're calling for a reassessment of the biggest series in cricket's history's importance. It's an overreaction at the very least.

Where did i say that?

 

[Gethelred]

Where did i say that?

... that's what you've actively asked for with both the thread title and the OP.

Never mind. Be the beautiful snowflake you want to be.

 

[Todman]

Cricket Australia will have to refund 90,000 tickets for tomorrow.

 

[Cmarsh]

2023 second rate? 2023 was a great and enthralling series.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Two fairly average teams, that’s all.

Go back to 2005 and the Australian team was full of all time greats, and the English team had a stack of good players.

Now? Steve Smith, who’s past his ethereal best. Starc is a star. Cummins and Lyon have barely played.

Head and Carey are going well but not on the level of stars of the past - at least not yet for Carey.

England have Root. Stokes in the best of the rest, but he’s streaky. Archer is a star, but is injured too.

A huge number of bog average cricketers on both teams.

Both teams are just in a down spot. It’s cyclical and will turn.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Great rivalries always have dud matches, and in the case of cricket dud series.
Not all Carlton v Collingwood, Man Ure v Man City, Boca v River Plate, matches have been classics. Bugger all of the first of those in the past 40 years. The rivalries are built up by importance placed on them by the fan base and the players, there's not much sign yet if that fading - unless we have seen the first cracks among the players, which given the cavalier approach taken at times may be the case.

Test cricket does have the unfortunate characteristic of an unknown timeframe. Its in the nature of the beast. And while everyone would have been expecting multiple two day matches, its a known risk. Normally because of weather admittedly.

 

[Pt Augusta Power]

Balmy Army ruins it - bunch of ****heads

 

[scottywiper]

Seriously. Ashes this...ashes that....

The cricket this summer has been forgettable.

2 day test matches; ramp shots; tailenders opening and batting at 3.

This aint test cricket. This is a joke and it is a disgrace to the history of the Ashes.

Yes. Lots of injured players but this contest has been second rate....as it was in 2023 and 2020/21.

Both teams need to pull their finger out and play some proper cricket.

I tend to agree

 

[WeightOfTheWorld]

... that's what you've actively asked for with both the thread title and the OP.

Never mind. Be the beautiful snowflake you want to be.

you think the current series had enhanced the reputation of test cricket?

 

[Gethelred]

you think the current series had enhanced the reputation of test cricket?

I think this series has been a cripple fight. At no point have we gotten our first XI onto the park, and they only got theirs out there in the first test.

But you play with the players you have available. Being irritated or despairing or trying to make it out like the sky is falling is a bigger clownshow than anything put on the field.

 

[010203]

It is in Australia. Absolutely compelling in England over the last 2 decades.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

2023 second rate? 2023 was a great and enthralling series.

2023 wasn't brilliantly enthralling but it was better than this trash.

 

[010203]

Of sporting contests I follow, Australia vs New Zealand in rugby union would be right up there.