Administrators have copped justified fire for scheduling three Ashes series in two years, yet there is even stronger ammunition for critics when the frequency of ODI clashes between Australia and England is examined.
It has got to the point where announcing Australia will be playing England is nearly as redundant as James Brayshaw’s “gone into the people” remark whenever a six is scored.
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Here is a list of ODI competitions in which Australia has faced England since September 2009 (not including matches at major ICC tournaments, such as the World Cup and the Champions Trophy):
Overkill for commercial reasons isn’t a new phenomena. In 1979-80, the season of rapprochement between World Series Cricket and official cricket, England joined the West Indies as the touring teams for a long and trying summer, forcing the postponement of India’s visit.
Pretending that England’s priority status when it comes to ODI cricket is new would be unfounded. However, never before has it reached these lengths.
This proliferation also hasn’t resulted in more tight series. With the exception of the series after the 2013 Ashes, none of the aforementioned series were close, supporting the hypothesis that a break will heighten spectator interest.
Ambrose Bierce once said “War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography.” If cricket administrators don’t reverse current trends, the refrain could soon read, “World Cups are God’s way of reminding Cricket Australia and the ECB of other ODI sides.”
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