Ashes or the World Cup?

[andyc]

Who do England host in the summer, and are Australia playing any Test cricket before the Ashes?

We've got two Tests against Pakistan in England in mid-late July, and then straight afterwards (like 4 days), Pakistan play four against England.

 

[Sir Alex]

Who do England host in the summer, and are Australia playing any Test cricket before the Ashes?

Australia is playing Pakistan in England during English summer. I am not sure they're hosting any other nations.

 

[Faisal1985]

Of Course the WC. Ashes is only 2 teams.

 

[Sir Alex]

We've got two Tests against Pakistan in England in mid-late July, and then straight afterwards (like 4 days), Pakistan play four against England.

Thanks didn't knew about pakistan vs england tests.

Also there are two bilateral series of 5 one dayers each. Not sure whether they could've replaced that with a triseries as all matches will have guaranteed crowds imho.

 

[Pothas]

Frankly if we won the World Cup we'd be sick of hearing about it within a week, it's all we'd hear about for a decade, and people would still be banging on about it at regular intervals for the next half-century. And I don't know if I could live in a country where the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard get knighthoods.

Yeah it would get nauseating very quickly, especially if they all go visit cool prime minister Dave at number 10.

 

[vcs]

Ah, OK. Sounds good. Hope the English media don't project a "This is all just a warmup to the Ashes" vibe during those series.

 

[Sir Alex]

England are also hosting Bang for 2 tests and 3 onedays.

That would make it a total of 8 tests (2 neutral) and 13 onedays for the summer. One of the most prolific English summers in recent times I guess.

 

[GotSpin]

Ashes by far. Couldn't get tickets to the 06/07 series because they all sold so quickly so I'm really hoping, unless I go overseas for NYE, that I can go to the Sydney and boxing day tests.

 

[Matt79]

Ashes, although the WC will be pretty epic when we go through undefeated again.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Ashes for me always.Though i can fully understand a person from outside England or Australia preferring the World Cup.

 

[grecian]

Frankly if we won the World Cup we'd be sick of hearing about it within a week, it's all we'd hear about for a decade, and people would still be banging on about it at regular intervals for the next half-century. And I don't know if I could live in a country where the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard get knighthoods.

Really!! Arbuckle actually is one of the few from our putrid team, I wouldn't mind getting a knighthood, nice articulate chap by all accounts.

Anyway, an obvious no-contest from me, I dread the ODI World Cup, if it's like last time, a never-ending waste of time from the cricketing calendar. Not looking forward to the Ashes much though, fear we'll get tonked again, TBH.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Frankly if we won the World Cup we'd be sick of hearing about it within a week, it's all we'd hear about for a decade, and people would still be banging on about it at regular intervals for the next half-century. And I don't know if I could live in a country where the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard get knighthoods.

Really!! Arbuckle actually is one of the few from our putrid team, I wouldn't mind getting a knighthood, nice articulate chap by all accounts.

TBF it's nearly 50/50 on the client/good guy count IMHO.

Barry, Rob Green, Milner & Email all seem sound of the likely starters and Feo is an absolute sweetheart by all accounts.

 

[GIMH]

Ashes

 

[Uppercut]

TBF it's nearly 50/50 on the client/good guy count IMHO.

Barry, Rob Green, Milner & Email all seem sound of the likely starters and Feo is an absolute sweetheart by all accounts.

Rooney. Admit it, you love him in spite of all the media's cringeworthy fawning.

 

[GIMH]

Rooney's a legit ****, reasons why later

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Ashes, obviously.

But putting my neutral hat on, far more excited about the football World Cup than the Ashes. Haven't anticipated a sports event for this long ever before, I don't think.

 

[Goughy]

Ashes, obviously.

But putting my neutral hat on, far more excited about the football World Cup than the Ashes. Haven't anticipated a sports event for this long ever before, I don't think.

Is it generating a big buzz in the UK? I have not been following it. I still cant fathom how I just stopped being interested in the sport. I was fanatical and now I doubt Ill watch a single game (possibly USA v Eng for social reasons)

 

[Uppercut]

Rooney's a legit ****, reasons why later

Don't leave me hangin. I want yer defamatory goss.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Rooney. Admit it, you love him in spite of all the media's cringeworthy fawning.

Nah, great player & all but not not a massive **** with it. Sort of bloke who'd glass you over dominoes in the local.

Theo was saying only on Saturday that he bust a snooker cue during the last WC (link):

"I remember Wayne losing [in Germany] and he broke the cue," says Walcott, with a smile. "It shows how passionate he is."

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Is it generating a big buzz in the UK? I have not been following it. I still cant fathom how I just stopped being interested in the sport. I was fanatical and now I doubt Ill watch a single game (possibly USA v Eng for social reasons)

No, I wouldn't have thought so. I'm a bit of a football purist though, I have little interest in the end of the Premiership season now that my own team's finish place has been more or less decided. But a World Cup is just something else, I can't really describe how. I think that beyond the commercialism (comparatively limited at the World Cup as compared to many other major sports events) there is something quite pure about world-class sportsmen playing for non-monetary reasons and because of who their team represents. Strangely I find it hard to conciliate my generally internationalist stance with the patriotism that a World Cup involves. There's also the history - certain moments in World Cup history are the defining moments of the game's history. And the fact that it is the one sports event (other than the Olympics, which is essentially all sports and doesn't move the passions in the same way) which more or less the whole globe gets fussed about sits it well above the Ashes for me, which essentially is a two-horse race.

That's not to say that I'm not excited about the Ashes, as stated earlier.

Those are mere ramblings though, I think given a bit more time and thought I could state my case far better.