Last three seasons venues have hosted countries

[Pumba]

Australia, South Africa, India and England are all very competative with each other atm, then there is daylight with the rest. Ok England have lost to India away and South Africa at home but they were still highly competative. Hey If Australia took their chances in Melbourne they probably would have won this series, but they did'nt and stats will show this.

i agree with the top 3 being very close but england are way behind currently, will be interesting to see how they go in the WI the should win easily

[jointman]

Australia, South Africa, India and England are all very competative with each other atm, then there is daylight with the rest. Ok England have lost to India away and South Africa at home but they were still highly competative. Hey If Australia took their chances in Melbourne they probably would have won this series, but they did'nt and stats will show this.

we were a chance to win every game of the series...couldnt bowl SA out twice when they was chasing 415.....had SA on the ropes 1st innings of the 2nd test till the tail end stood up...

[LaughingKookaburra]

Australia, South Africa, India and England are all very competative with each other atm, then there is daylight with the rest. Ok England have lost to India away and South Africa at home but they were still highly competative. Hey If Australia took their chances in Melbourne they probably would have won this series, but they did'nt and stats will show this.

i agree with the top 3 being very close but england are way behind currently, will be interesting to see how they go in the WI the should win easily

They are closer to us now than they were at this stage in 2005.......

[FlyingHigh]

I know everyone will point to busy schedules etc, but is there much point in having two series where the trophy is up for grabs within a couple of months? If SA win again, it just proves they are better at the moment, which we already know. If the Aussies win, then what's the use of SA holding it for a couple of months? Further, we won't then be playing them again for another whole four years - compare the sides last time they played.

Ditto playing India twice within the space of 10 months.

However, the Ashes, roughly every couple of years builds the anticipation, plus teams are similar or evolving, rather than being the same for two consecutive series and then totally different in a few years time.

Good point i think the way the Ashes are played is the ideal way to plan matches between the test playing nations. Twice in 4 months then not for 4 years is a stupid way to do it IMO.

Another sticking point is that most countries have to play their cricket Oct-Mar, but it would seem more sense to have played SA last year in Aust, then in SA as coming up, India in India in Oct as we did, then India out here next year, with the Windies here this summer.