So...

The Ashes embodies one of sport's greatest historic rivalries Matth. So quite a lot of people get up at 4.00am to watch it (not me though, I haven't got sky. Think the next series might be on BT Sport?)
I like to watch test cricket too but there does seem to have been a nosedive in quality in the last few years. All the current test sides are a shadow of former years. When you think of all the players that have retired from West Indies, India, Australia and England in the last 20 years without players of a similar calibre coming in to replace them then it's not difficult to see why it's declining as a spectacle.
 
We're still good at getting really ****ing drunk and acting like ****s <ok>


Oh wait you lot are probably still ahead of us there too, never mind.
 
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Oh ****, wee wee face brigade.

Woooop Wooooop

No its me telling Matth to stop being a twat.

No I found it funny how you thought you'd barge in just because it was Matth, even though he wasn't talking to you, you ****yfaced twat
 
No I found it funny how you thought you'd barge in just because it was Matth, even though he wasn't talking to you, you ****yfaced twat

And I find it funny that you follow matth around, defending his stupid arse from mild jokes when no one was talking to you, you Social Justice ***hag.
:p
 
I like to watch test cricket too but there does seem to have been a nosedive in quality in the last few years. All the current test sides are a shadow of former years. When you think of all the players that have retired from West Indies, India, Australia and England in the last 20 years without players of a similar calibre coming in to replace them then it's not difficult to see why it's declining as a spectacle.

West Indies in particular. With the others - and Pakistan - it's mostly cyclical I think; England still has some exciting players.

I read somewhere that the most talented West Indian athletes are actively recruited and given scolarships by US Colleges, so the old production line of fast bowlers now produces track and field stars in the States. Not sure how true that is.
 
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The Ashes embodies one of sport's greatest historic rivalries Matth. So quite a lot of people get up at 4.00am to watch it (not me though, I haven't got sky. Think the next series might be on BT Sport?)

Tbf when the world cup is happening on the other side of the planet, @Matth_2014 stays firmly under the 50 tog in his box room, only venturing to wake up for a quick w@nk. He missed the whole of 2002 world cup on that basis, but by God did Susan Boyle get a good working over.
 
I like to watch test cricket too but there does seem to have been a nosedive in quality in the last few years. All the current test sides are a shadow of former years. When you think of all the players that have retired from West Indies, India, Australia and England in the last 20 years without players of a similar calibre coming in to replace them then it's not difficult to see why it's declining as a spectacle.

Especially as 3 of those countries didn't really have many (if any) great players in the last 20 years <laugh>
 
Basketball was a sport that plundered the West Indies and, as they get more money, a lot of young Carribeans pursued that sport instead if test cricket.

Which is a huge blow to cricket as there wasn't much better than their test team from the 70's and through to the 90's. Great to watch.

Paradoxically the short game, which is supposed to be more entertaining, has also had a detrimental effect on the long game.
Most young cricketers are crash bang wallop merchants and this is a big reason why test cricket isn't as high in quality than it has been. Agree it's cyclical though, it wasn't that long back that test cricket was high in quality. I cant see the Windies or Sri Lanka ever getting right back to the top though, which means there are only five decent test teams left.

I'm off to England v the Aussies on Saturday and I'm a bit meh about it, give me a day at the test any day of the week.

Even considering how **** England currently are at test cricket and good as they are one day.