The Ashes 2019

[Disgruntledgoat]

They've been at war over Kashmir recently which has been a longstanding dispute almost since partition after British rule ended. There is widespread suspicion of each other with India perhaps thinking it's neighbour provides succour to terrorists and the Mumbai massacre very much remembered.

I would think not much above zero chance of these two actually arranging a sporting contest outside of world cups for some time to come.

What on earth would give them that idea?

 

[Billy Dean]

The Ashes series held in England are always in an odd-numbered year (or have been as far back as I can remember), whereas World Cups, Euros and Olympics are in even-numbered years.I'm sure this is deliberate so as to avoid any clashes with other events, but it is consistent and not just done for the recently finished series.

Exactly, that's what I thought. There have been calls to say that this year's should've been postponed to next year after the CWC, but maybe they didn't want to clash with the Euros and the Olympics

 

[Philw]

Aus NZ not a big rivalry in cricket?

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Aus NZ not a big rivalry in cricket?

Yes the Tasman rivalry is a notable one but as with South Africa, test cricket is extremely poorly supported in New Zealand with sparse crowds, except that is when England's away support barmy army are in town.

New Zealand have traditionally been far weaker than Australia so while that might not have always been the case in the most recent decade, there is no real history of competitive series between the two.