The Ashes, fiercest rivalry in world sport?

[HypoThesis]

One of the commentators at the start of Australia's game against the Windies said something along the lines of "so begins the Australians on their journey at the beginning of an Ashes summer" At the beginning of a world cup?

I mean, WTF? The Fiercest rivalry in WORLD SPORT according to this genius: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jun/07/vic-marks-ashes-preview Seems like USA vs Russia in hockey doesn't count, nor the Boks vs the All Blacks, nor Brazil vs Argentina in football, India vs Pakistan, Liverpool vs Manchester Utd etc etc etc

Even during the Aussie tour recently all their media seemed to be concerned about was injuries for the Ashes. Wish the whole thing gets rained out

 

[Morgoth]

The Ashes is only mabe a big fuss of, because it is the first test series, it is nothing more special then SA vs Aus though,

 

[milomak]

it always irrtates me when commentators make out the ashes is the be all and end all of cricket

 

[chiskop]

Both Eng and Aus caught short so far in the T20 World Cup.

 

[ubercal]

One of the commentators at the start of Australia's game against the Windies said something along the lines of "so begins the Australians on their journey at the beginning of an Ashes summer" At the beginning of a world cup?

I mean, WTF? The Fiercest rivalry in WORLD SPORT according to this genius: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jun/07/vic-marks-ashes-preview Seems like USA vs Russia in hockey doesn't count, nor the Boks vs the All Blacks, nor Brazil vs Argentina in football, India vs Pakistan, Liverpool vs Manchester Utd etc etc etc

Even during the Aussie tour recently all their media seemed to be concerned about was injuries for the Ashes. Wish the whole thing gets rained out

The biggest rivaliers in sport are 99% football aka soccer.

Milan vs Inter , Boca vs River plate , Celtic vs rangers , zamalek vs Al ahley , Roma vs Lazio , Barca vs Real Madrid

 

[stefan9]

Its not even the fiercest in cricket, is the oldest but noway its worse than india vs pakistan.

 

[HypoThesis]

Would make me so happy if the English lose today and the Aussies lose tomorrow so they can get to their Ashes training early

 

[iceman23]

lol chiefs vs pirates is bigger rivalry than that...

 

[theratman]

Its not even the fiercest in cricket, is the oldest but noway its worse than india vs pakistan.

That imho is the biggest rivalry in cricket

lol chiefs vs pirates is bigger rivalry than that...

The Soweto derby is huge,massive!

I think I hate the ashes just because I absolutly hate the english and aus cricket teams.I'm a bigot and I don't care

 

[killadoob]

Why do you say england won't win? The aussies are so poor i think england have a great chance of nailing them.

 

[chiskop]

Why do you say england won't win? The aussies are so poor i think england have a great chance of nailing them.

England are so great either.

I have no doubt that both SL and WI would've beaten England, playing the way they've done so far in the World Cup.

(Admitably, Eng clobbered WI recently, but Gayle didn't really bother to turn up for those games.)

 

[killadoob]

The aussies main weakness is not having enough quality in a few departments.

While chis i agree england are not that great either i just feel the aussies are on a bad downward spiral in terms of talent. sure gayle helped the WI but when gayle hit a ton against us we still beat them.

 

[chiskop]

You talking about T20 or test cricket?

Don't see the WI beating Aus in Test cricket anytime soon.
Holland beat England in a T20 and they won't beat them in test cricket.

The Aussies must have used about 30 different players against us in the summer - plenty of depth there in batting and fast bowling, just no good spinner.

Agreed. I don't see the Netherlands beating anyone in Test cricket just yet (even if they were allowed to play).

I loved Bumble's comment on Haurtiz: "I also notice Nathan Hauritz is included, so there's no spinners."

 

[Devill]

There aren't too many international soccer rivalries going on.
They should play best of 3 Soccer tests.
Brazil vs Germany or England vs Argentina would be cool to watch.


Back to cricket, yes Ashes in 2005 was great, but England won't win for another 15 years.

Ind vs Pak and Ind vs Aus are the 2 biggest rivalries currently.

No SA vs Aus? Im sure the two top teams in the world have a pretty fierce rivalry....

England are not so great either.

Fixed it mr Nazi

 

[chiskop]

Fixed it mr Nazi

Bloody pedant.

 

[Devill]

Bloody pedant.

I just want to help

 

[chiskop]

If any of the top Test team's is on the decline, I'd say that would be India.

What?

India have lost a few senior players recently, guys like Kumble and Ganguly, but unlike Aus, India seem to have a steady stream of young players coming through: Raina, Badrinath, Chawla, Ishant etc. India is a great team, and will be for a while still, imo.

 

[Devill]

Not yet, but getting there.
Remember that we've been getting pwned by the Aussies for about 15 years in Test cricket.
We also got the famous "chokers" tag from them in the ODI rivalry.

We've got the best T20 side imo, so hopefully we can win this tournament and get rid of it.

As far as media coverage goes, the Ashes is huge.
Now if England were to win the first test, there will be a frenzy.
The Aussies are already pissed that the first one won't be played at Lords (England don't win there).

As for the best test team, don't forget about Sri Lanka.
SA have a great side, but I think they'll beat us.
They may just beat the Aussies as well.
They've got an awesome bowling attack, and their batting is pretty good.

If any of the top Test team's is on the decline, I'd say that would be India.

Mmm funny how I remember that we were one of the few teams to actually give Uas a go in the last couple of years... Remember fanie bowling them out after we set them a mere 117 runs to win? Did we not draw that series?

At that time and for the next 10 years we were IMO the only team to keep giving the Aussies a go on a regular basis.

I do agree the media coverage the Ashes get is awesome. Also Sri lank is not a bad team but they are not at the top yet. I am sure we will beat them atm if we played here in SA and 10-1 draw lose 2-1 or 1-0 to them if we played there.

 

[Ou grote]

Mmm funny how I remember that we were one of the few teams to actually give Uas a go in the last couple of years... Remember fanie bowling them out after we set them a mere 117 runs to win? Did we not draw that series?

At that time and for the next 10 years we were IMO the only team to keep giving the Aussies a go on a regular basis.

Yes, that first series we did well to draw.
Then there was around 15 years, where we got beaten.
I think there was one drawn series in that time, not sure.

 

[Devill]

Yes, that first series we did well to draw.
Then there was around 15 years, where we got beaten.
I think there was one drawn series in that time, not sure.

Yes and so did the other teams you mentioned

IIRC we were the first team to win there since the Windies....