Re: Is this the greatest cricket series ever?
wht wbt 1983-84 series...??? (i don't remember the exact year)
where botham was in his top form when england cameback after 1st test defeat...
Re: Is this the greatest cricket series ever?
Aussies raised their game this summer...
i) At Lords after they were bowled out for only 190. They then bowled, batted and bowled again brilliantly.
ii) At Edgbaston after England had blazed over 400 on day 1, the Aussies raised their game to have England teetering in their 2nd innings with only a small lead on the board. Flintoff then responded to crucially boost the target to 282.
iii) At Edgbaston after England had made in-roads to the Aussie top order (2nd innings) the Aussie's raised their game and the tail performed unbelievably well, especially Lee who's conduct on and off the pitch has been a great example for all.
iv) At Old Trafford after England had a comanding lead they batted brilliantly on the final day. At one stage when Ponting and Warne were in the target was still achievable (believe me I know because I had been laying the Aussies at over 100/1 and was becoming increasingly concerned as their odds dropped below 10/1).
v) At Old Trafford after Ponting was out the tail held on again for the draw. We can argue if it hasn't been Jones inury, England might have won that match too.
vi) At Trent Bridge after following on the Aussies batted well and managed to set England a nervy total.
vii) At Trent Bridge when the bowlers took 7 wickets leaving the England tail exposed with Jones unfit in the pavillion, only for Hoggy and the King of Spain to respond and see England home.
For the last 16 years, Aussies have used the Ashes as Big Stick to hit Pommies with. AUSSIES BE WARNED, THE POMS ARE NOW DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO GETTING THEIR HANDS ON THAT STICK!! Sha la la lala lalala .....
Re: Is this the greatest cricket series ever?
this series is probably the closest and best series of the last 10 years. the reason is simple . the quality of cricket played was just outstanding.
a close second would be the ind- aus series of 2001. the reason being that aus was on a roll after winning about 30+ consecutive test matches and steve waughs side was being compared t the bradmans untouchables of the 50's. at that point of time the aussies arrived in india after beating both ind and pakistan in australia 3-0,3-0 respectively.
they won the first test in mumbai in 3 days flat. wasim akram was quick to give th verdict that it would be a 3-0 whitewash. after that in the second test india followed on and were 3or 4 wickets down in the second innings when Dravid and Laxman came to the crease and turned the whole match on its head.
in the next test(i think in chennai, not sure), matters had sort of evened out and the match looked poised for a tame draw when out of sun dropped harbajan sin and took a hat trick to set up an improbable win for the indians.
if we look over sentimental reasons i think y'all would agree that it was indeed a great series to watch.
as for the pakistan inda series of the recent few years...i wasnt too flattered cos the cricket quality wasnt really all that great. when india came to pakistan, the pakistanis played badly and lost. when pakistan went to india, the indians played badly and lost. so those two seires werent all that great for cricketing reasons per se. IMO, the political overtures of the two respective countries gave an added popularity to the series which otherwise was just about ok.