Ashes 2005 and West Indies vs Australia 1960/61-Greatest Series Ever??

roseboy64 · 08-09-2005, 08:01 PM

After seeing what both these series have done and did for cricket I'm wholly cinvinced that these two series were the greatest ever IMO. It's not just the impact they had oon Test cricket and cricket in general but the standard of play both times were awesome!! Question is, which one is/was better? Your thoughts?

sqwerty · 08-09-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseboy64

After seeing what both these series have done and did for cricket I'm wholly cinvinced that these two series were the greatest ever IMO. It's not just the impact they had oon Test cricket and cricket in general but the standard of play both times were awesome!! Question is, which one is/was better? Your thoughts?

didn't see the west Indies one.....so I'm going for the Ashes

Hope that helps

C_C · 08-09-2005, 10:03 PM

Erm...this Ashes is a nice series but i dont see how this Ashes series is THAT good...i think IND vs AUS 2001 was a better series in terms of excitement, not to mention that there are several close fought series between WI and PAK from the 80s that rate ahead of this one...

FaaipDeOiad · 08-09-2005, 11:14 PM

I think the 1981 and 1902 Ashes have to be considered as well, and the 92/93 series against the West Indies in Australia was a nailbiter as well.

This is certainly the best series in a decade though. The sheer number of thrilling contests, the way each has turned so many times along the way and the fact that it's clearly the best two teams in the world makes it hard to match.

archie mac · 09-09-2005, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaaipDeOiad

I think the 1981 and 1902 Ashes have to be considered as well, and the 92/93 series against the West Indies in Australia was a nailbiter as well.

This is certainly the best series in a decade though. The sheer number of thrilling contests, the way each has turned so many times along the way and the fact that it's clearly the best two teams in the world makes it hard to match.

The 1902 for me, but there was also the 1894/95 and 1936/37 if you take the series as a whole.

vic_orthdox · 09-09-2005, 12:19 AM

On A Current Affair last night, they interviewed Richie (who looked terrible without a make-up job) and they were showing highlights, and looking back, there has been some fantastic cricket played. I can't comment really, because it's completely unfair to proclaim this as the Greatest Series Ever, when I haven't watched (at all, or in their entirety) most of the competition.

luckyeddie · 09-09-2005, 12:22 AM

Of the ones I have seen (in other words my own opinion instead of regurgitating someone else's

) then I reckon that this has taken over from "Botham's Ashes" as the most gripping it's been my privilege to witness.

A great series doesn't really need great cricket, but it does need drama - and this one has had that in spades from ball 1 at Lord's.

sqwerty · 09-09-2005, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C_C

Erm...this Ashes is a nice series but i dont see how this Ashes series is THAT good...i think IND vs AUS 2001 was a better series in terms of excitement, not to mention that there are several close fought series between WI and PAK from the 80s that rate ahead of this one...

The Indian series was good but this is better simply for the fact that it is the Ashes and it hasn't been a contest in about 1000 years.

Add to that - the hype which went on for at least 12 months, 5 tests as opposed to 3 in India, and the fact that you don't just play on barren dustbowls with the spinners opening the bowling then this is a far more entertaining series.

The only negative is the crap cricket Australia is playing. Yeah sure there's the argument that England are making them play bad cricket blah blah blah.......BUT........I'm talking about the dropped catches, fielding and no balls. I reckon Australia have lost at least one test on that alone.

It's funny how you watch yesterdays play and you think.....Wow Australia fielded well today, they caught everything. I remember a time not too long ago when it was just a given that they fielded like that.

Deja moo · 09-09-2005, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sqwerty

and the fact that you don't just play on barren dustbowls with the spinners opening the bowling then this is a far more entertaining series.

.

McGrath averaged 18 with the ball, I believe. The pitch is only as good/bad as the bowlers and batsmen make it seem.

luckyeddie · 09-09-2005, 01:08 AM

One of the striking differences between the sides has been in the catching. I appreciate that Australia's general catching has been woeful (until yesterday) but England's has been far, far worse, at least as far as the number of chances spurned (albeit mainly by the obvious two culprits).

In yesterday's Times they did a bit of a run-down of the drops - including stumpings, Australia had declined 14, but England had grassed a staggering 24 - that's 3 an innings.

marc71178 · 09-09-2005, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C_C

i think IND vs AUS 2001 was a better series in terms of excitement,

3 Tests in a row which have gone right to the wire - how is that less exciting?

SJS · 09-09-2005, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sqwerty

The Indian series was good but this is better simply for the fact that it is the Ashes and it hasn't been a contest in about 1000 years.

Add to that - the hype which went on for at least 12 months, 5 tests as opposed to 3 in India, and the fact that you don't just play on barren dustbowls with the spinners opening the bowling then this is a far more entertaining series.

The only negative is the crap cricket Australia is playing. Yeah sure there's the argument that England are making them play bad cricket blah blah blah.......BUT........I'm talking about the dropped catches, fielding and no balls. I reckon Australia have lost at least one test on that alone.

It's funny how you watch yesterdays play and you think.....Wow Australia fielded well today, they caught everything. I remember a time not too long ago when it was just a given that they fielded like that.

Whats the big deal about Australia playing crap cricket ??

Its because rest of the world played crap cricket for so long that they have remained in solitary 'splendour' at the top of the rankings !!

Majin · 09-09-2005, 04:57 AM

I'll say Ashes 2005 because i've seen it.

Tapioca · 09-09-2005, 05:33 AM

Quote:

3 Tests in a row which have gone right to the wire

2005 : England won the second Test by 2 runs
1960/1 : First Test ended in a tie

2005 : The Australian last pair batted out four overs to draw the third Test
1960/1 : The Australian last pair of Mackay and Kline batted out the last *100* minutes to draw the fourth Test

2005 : England won the fourth Test by three wickets, chasing 129
1960/1 : Australia won the final Test by two wickets chasing 258

marc71178 · 09-09-2005, 06:01 AM

I was comparing to the supposedly more exciting Ind vs Aus series...

08-09-2005, 08:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
roseboy64 Cricket Web Content Updater Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Jamaica Posts: 18,549	Ashes 2005 and West Indies vs Australia 1960/61-Greatest Series Ever?? After seeing what both these series have done and did for cricket I'm wholly cinvinced that these two series were the greatest ever IMO. It's not just the impact they had oon Test cricket and cricket in general but the standard of play both times were awesome!! Question is, which one is/was better? Your thoughts? __________________ Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson = Greatest Ever Manager "One from ten leaves zero." - Eric Williams, former T&T PM Member of Cricket Web Green Member of Northside Power R.I.P Fardin Qayyumi

08-09-2005, 11:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
FaaipDeOiad Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 18,682	I think the 1981 and 1902 Ashes have to be considered as well, and the 92/93 series against the West Indies in Australia was a nailbiter as well. This is certainly the best series in a decade though. The sheer number of thrilling contests, the way each has turned so many times along the way and the fact that it's clearly the best two teams in the world makes it hard to match. __________________ I know a place where a royal flush Can never beat a pair

09-09-2005, 12:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
luckyeddie Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Derby, England Posts: 17,629	Of the ones I have seen (in other words my own opinion instead of regurgitating someone else's ) then I reckon that this has taken over from "Botham's Ashes" as the most gripping it's been my privilege to witness. A great series doesn't really need great cricket, but it does need drama - and this one has had that in spades from ball 1 at Lord's. __________________ Nigel Clough's Black and White Army, beating Forest away with 10 men

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08-09-2005, 10:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
C_C International Captain Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: World Posts: 6,990	Erm...this Ashes is a nice series but i dont see how this Ashes series is THAT good...i think IND vs AUS 2001 was a better series in terms of excitement, not to mention that there are several close fought series between WI and PAK from the 80s that rate ahead of this one...

09-09-2005, 12:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
vic_orthdox Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 24,368	On A Current Affair last night, they interviewed Richie (who looked terrible without a make-up job) and they were showing highlights, and looking back, there has been some fantastic cricket played. I can't comment really, because it's completely unfair to proclaim this as the Greatest Series Ever, when I haven't watched (at all, or in their entirety) most of the competition.

09-09-2005, 01:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
luckyeddie Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Derby, England Posts: 17,629	One of the striking differences between the sides has been in the catching. I appreciate that Australia's general catching has been woeful (until yesterday) but England's has been far, far worse, at least as far as the number of chances spurned (albeit mainly by the obvious two culprits). In yesterday's Times they did a bit of a run-down of the drops - including stumpings, Australia had declined 14, but England had grassed a staggering 24 - that's 3 an innings.

09-09-2005, 04:57 AM	#13 (permalink)
Majin International Debutant Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 2,784	I'll say Ashes 2005 because i've seen it.

09-09-2005, 06:01 AM	#15 (permalink)
marc71178 Eyes not spreadsheets Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: England Posts: 56,346	I was comparing to the supposedly more exciting Ind vs Aus series...

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