Why did we even play this Series?

[King Elvis]

Purely for cash?

It's the worst prep for the Ashes you could imagine; everybody should be back with their domestic side, playing 4 day cricket to prepare for the most important Series we play.

Instead we've got half of our team playing in meaningless ODI games where we, once again, make ******ed decisions (Doherty out, wtf?) and don't achieve anything.

The Sri Lankans are deserved winners, but why the hell did this Series even take place?

 

[Bucking Beads]

Yeah I would have prefered to see the Aussies playing first class cricket. I don't think they play enough for there states TBH.

 

[Warsaw]

Is this the question we're asking before the series started or...

 

[Mancey]

Some sorta misguided attempt to prepare for the world cup i guess. Don't think it's told us much

 

[Phone]

No idea. The only possible explanation I can think of is that we booked SL for the tri-series after the Ashes but after we scrapped that concept we still had to play SL in some ODers sometime during the summer.

 

[Belnakor]

looks like punter didn't rate it either, has checked out for the 3rd ODI

 

[worbod]

We shouldn't have even gone to India. What was the point of playing a two Test series and three one dayers over there?

 

[frankrizzo]

Well that Indian series made no sense, we just toured in 2008 and it isn't exactly what we need before the ashes but when India say jump our board say how high.

Not that our players are any different.

 

[rhaz]

So we should've just sat on our ass for the past 2-3 months 'training' and playing domestic cricket instead of internationals? The game doesn't and shouldn't revolve around the Ashes.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

There is a World Cup in February.

 

[lards]

Ashes > World Cup IMO, should be focusing on that. England playing a tour match while we are playing a one day series. What a joke.

 

[magic_johnson!]

There's still 18 days for the Australians. It's not like we go straight from this into the ashes...

 

[worbod]

So we should've just sat on our ass for the past 2-3 months 'training' and playing domestic cricket instead of internationals? The game doesn't and shouldn't revolve around the Ashes.

It would have been better preparation to play some four day games prior to the opening Test, which is what England are doing, here in Australia, which is where England are preparing, funnily enough.

What is the benefit of playing three one dayers which have no meaning and no sizeable reward for the winner. Is there a trophy? If there is, who knows the name of it? And who honestly and passionately cares as to who wins this one day series?

 

[Hayesuel]

Realistically we should have stayed in India and played a further couple of test matches and forgone this ODI series with the Lankans and had them out post ashes for a Tri Series of old.

Then the guys could come back to grab a game or 2 of shield cricket and we're off.

In regards to the indian series, most cricket boards will do anything to get a series with India in India i think as the money generated is simply too hard to turn down. Cant remember if it was in the Paki-betting scandal program on the ABC or elsewhere but a series there will net you at least double that offered playing another nation.

 

[Smoooothy]

No idea. The only possible explanation I can think of is that we booked SL for the tri-series after the Ashes but after we scrapped that concept we still had to play SL in some ODers sometime during the summer.

this sounds likely. the future tours schedule is drawn up 3 or 4 years before it's played, and at the time we were still doing the CB Series