Are the Ashes the most overhyped sporting event ever?

[Donal Cozzie]

Series after series, bore after bore. One epic series in decades (2005) yet despite that IMO the Ashes are INCREDIBLY dull.

Away team gets thumped, dont have bowling to compete, home team thrashes them.

All that hype for this?

Would rather watch Mozambique U15's.

 

[Convict]

The Ashes are a cultural event as much as anything else. What foreigners think of it is actively irrelevant.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

The Ashes are a cultural event as much as anything else. What foreigners think of it is actively irrelevant.

I get that. But cricket has it hyped up to some insane degree. Even as a cultural event, where'S the excitement on everything repeating itself?

England go to Australia, 130k bowlers get tonked, get thrashed and lose badly.

Australia go to England, perform OK in comparison but still lose with their batsmen being exposed vs a moving ball, losing at least 2 Tests heavily.

Rinse repeat.

 

[Cricket World]

Nothing special to be honest it's pure Hype by media. It might have been an event 50 years back but not any more.

 

[hafeezrocks]

Most boring and one sided contest for sure, it's a pathetic series compared to India SA one.

 

[English August]

I get that. But cricket has it hyped up to some insane degree. Even as a cultural event, where'S the excitement on everything repeating itself?

England go to Australia, 130k bowlers get tonked, get thrashed and lose badly.

Australia go to England, perform OK in comparison but still lose with their batsmen being exposed vs a moving ball, losing at least 2 Tests heavily.

Rinse repeat.

It's overhyped, dull and boring alright. But as long as the two teams are playing amongst themselves, their fans are having fun and not affecting anyone else, what's the problem? It's not as if they're forcing others to participate or watch.

 

[JaDed]

Yes ,it is why the rest of the cricketing world cares no idea,still its much better than how it was in the 90's.

 

[Aman]

Yes and it's not even close.

It's nowhere near India-Pak IMO.

The intensity, atmosphere and passion is unmatched in cricket.

 

[Aman]

The Ashes are a cultural event as much as anything else. What foreigners think of it is actively irrelevant.

It's boring.

I wouldn't even enjoy flogging Australia like this.

Your series against India and SA are far more enjoyable than this.

 

[Aman]

Most boring and one sided contest for sure, it's a pathetic series compared to India SA one.

Why couldn't Sky NZ have gotten rights for that series instead of this rubbish

 

[CricTragic]

For Aussies and Pom's it isnt over hyped! It has been going since 1883 and is a great event no matter the result. The only ones that think it over hyped are neither Aussie or Pom.
When an 88 year old ex Prime minister of Australia goes to the match at skulls a beer{like he is known for} you know its an Event!!! haha

 

[English August]

Yes and it's not even close.

It's nowhere near India-Pak IMO.

The intensity, atmosphere and passion is unmatched in cricket.

India Pak haven't even played a Test series for > 10 years. There have been many such interruptions like this in the past as well. Eng / Aus play each other twice every 4-5 years.

The two aren't comparable. Not even close.

 

[todfod 11]

its very boring and tiring to watch.

 

[Aman]

For Aussies and Pom's it isnt over hyped! It has been going since 1883 and is a great event no matter the result. The only ones that think it over hyped are neither Aussie or Pom.
When an 88 year old ex Prime minister of Australia goes to the match at skulls a beer{like he is known for} you know its an Event!!! haha

How sad is it that the only highlight of a 5 Test series is a former PM skulling a beer.

 

[Varun]

Man, if it was any other team than England who get the opportunity to play 5 tests home and away against Australia, it would be a much better spectacle than the dross they usually put up.

 

[Ab Fan]

Aus vs SA provides the best test matches in the world while in odis, its Aus vs Ind.

Even Aus vs India in tests are better than this series.

 

[Varun]

Aus vs SA provides the best test matches in the world while in odis, its Aus vs Ind.

Even Aus vs India in tests are better than this series.

Australia vs India tests are an exaggerated version of Australia vs England tests.

That said, the 2017 series between Aus and Ind was one of the best ones ever, with others also making the cut: 2001, 2003/4 2004, 2007/8 and 2010.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

I don't think it's overhyped. Nobody cares about Ashes outside England and Aus, and nobody should. Only thing I kept track for this Ashes is Steven Smith's batting average

 

[Sachin136]

The cricket is boring because it isn't competitive. But it is still fun to follow because of the history and the environment/hype (on the ground, in the media, online etc).

 

[CricTragic]

How could anyone not like and respect two brothers getting a Ton each together, no matter the lopsidedness, that in itself is not something you see very often in first class !!!!

 

[Gilly]

Series after series, bore after bore. One epic series in decades (2005) yet despite that IMO the Ashes are INCREDIBLY dull.

Away team gets thumped, dont have bowling to compete, home team thrashes them.

All that hype for this?

Would rather watch Mozambique U15's.

Just type in the code word "ashes" if someone is holding a gun to your head and making you watch the Ashes and we will send a swat team immediately to rescue you.

 

[indipper]

Its a cultural thing, kinda Indo-Pak rivalry without border tensions but playing every year. It's boring, but at one time it was the only big cricket thing out there.

 

[ChoudherySix]

The most overhyped sporting event would be any football match. Literally any football match.

 

[Kroll]

I’m glad I can avoid the matches as they’re on during the wee hours UK time. I have sympathy for anyone staying up to watch this tosh.

 

[Ball Blazer]

The 2005 Ashes, arguably the greatest Test series of all-time, started 20 years ago today

 

[U$ofA]

Well, the upcoming Ashes is going to be a one sided affair. The English are going to get their rear ends handed to them.

 

[Rafale Nidhal]

Ashes is the reason Test cricket is still alive.

 

[Kohlhaas]

There are some very miserable people on here.

 

[Kohlhaas]

The most overhyped sporting event would be any football match. Literally any football match.

Mmmm…I give you…the Superbowl!

 

[mominsaigol]

Well, the upcoming Ashes is going to be a one sided affair. The English are going to get their rear ends handed to them.

Why? This is an expiring Aussie team facing a very strong England team

 

[U$ofA]

Why? This is an expiring Aussie team facing a very strong England team

Yes, there are a bunch of them in the Aus. team on the wrong side of 30. But still I feel Aus. is going to win this going away.

This is going to be a sort of last hurrah for this team. There should be some retirements forthcoming after the ashes.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Why? This is an expiring Aussie team facing a very strong England team

LOL! Current England team is garbage. They are toughing it out against a mediocre Indian side at home. Australia has next Bradman Konstas, JFM, Goat legend Steven Smith and all conquering home basher Travis Head.

 

[sweep_shot]

I don't think it is overhyped. It has a legacy that goes back to 19th century.

I personally enjoy The Ashes.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Yes it is over hyped but because many of their fans and media buy into the hype it becomes an enjoyable watch.

I used to get annoyed at the way they prioritised it but it is a nice touch of tradition left in a sport that has otherwise been ravaged by Indians.

 

[Bhaijaan]

If you’re looking for non-stop drama every series that’s not always gonna happen. Test cricket is generally more about persistence and playing the waiting game. More often about waiting for the opponent to break mentally and commit errors rather than you doing something extra ordinary. If you cannot find pleasure in the slow and grinding nature of test cricket, you’re not a true test cricket lover.

As for the The Ashes, it isn’t just another series, it’s literally the roots of cricket as we know it. The game was built on this rivalry.

It’s not just about the scoreline or flashy moments. It’s about legacy. You only had to watch the last Lord’s Test to realize it, the atmosphere, the history, the tradition. You’ve got these old MCC members sitting in the stands, many of whom were once kids inspired by cricketers decades ago, now watching today’s generation carry the torch. That’s what makes the Ashes special. It’s not just a match, it’s generations of cricket coming full circle.

This kind of continuity is what sets cricket apart. It’s not just another sport, it’s a story that’s been passed down over time. Take away things like the Ashes, and cricket loses a big part of what makes it great.

The history, the context, the meaning behind every ball, that’s what keeps fans coming back.

 

[shaz619]

It’s the pinnacle for England & Australia, I don’t believe it’s over-hyped due to the history and tradition. If you don’t value those and are a enthusiast of the sport, then you should still appreciate how valued the Ashes are in 2025, who knows what the fate of Tests will be in the future, so it’s still refreshing that such high profile series remain relevant to this day.

Look at the final few sessions in the last Test between England/India, I think the RR in one of them was like 1, but there was not a single spare seat in the stands and everyone had their eyes glued to the TV, only Test cricket allows such engrossing narratives to play out before your eyes, no other format will ever compare in that regard.

 

[Rafale Nidhal]

It’s the pinnacle for England & Australia, I don’t believe it’s over-hyped due to the history and tradition. If you don’t value those and are a enthusiast of the sport, then you should still appreciate how valued the Ashes are in 2025, who knows what the fate of Tests will be in the future, so it’s still refreshing that such high profile series remain relevant to this day.

Look at the final few sessions in the last Test between England/India, I think the RR in one of them was like 1, but there was not a single spare seat in the stands and everyone had their eyes glued to the TV, only Test cricket allows such engrossing narratives to play out before your eyes, no other format will ever compare in that regard.

Ashes is the reason Test cricket got the boost and hype in cricket in the first place. Even prior to 2005 when Australia was owning England every single Ashes there were packed stadiums.

I believe without Ashes Test cricket would've died a long time ago. Besides Ashes, Indo-Pak series was one that would hit higher numbers than Ashes but Test cricket cannot rely on a coward country who stops playing cricket because of the W/L ratio was too deep and then brings on terrorism excuses.