by bigfluffylemon » Mon Dec 11, 2017 4:54 am
I've been wondering this as well. It's not good for the game, it's boring and predictable. The top 5 teams win at home the overwhelming majority of the time - they only win away when they tour the weaker sides, and even then they are not likely to (Australia and England both drawing in Bangladesh).
Taking the top 5 teams since the start of 2013
Australia have lost once at home (South Africa), yet lost in India, Sri Lanka, UAE and England and drawn in Bangladesh. One win in South Africa, plus New Zealand and West Indies.
England have lost once at home (Sri Lanka), yet lost in Australia, India, UAE, and drawn in West Indies and Bangladesh. One win in South Africa. Er, that's it.
India are unbeaten at home, but have lost in Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand, drawn in Bangladesh, with wins only in Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Pakistan have only lost once in UAE (Sri Lanka), but have lost in Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand and drawn in England and Zimbabwe (they haven't played India in 5 years., nor toured to South Africa). They've won in West Indies and Sri Lanka (having somehow toured there twice in the time).
South Africa are regarded as a team to break the mould, but they've only lost twice at home (England and Australia), yet their overseas wins have been against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. They've still lost more away than they've won, including draws in UAE and Bangladesh, and losing in England and India.
So really, the only half-decent achievements by touring sides have been South Africa in Australia, England and Australia in South Africa, Sri Lanka in England. I'm not really counting wins against Sri Lanka (especially by subcontinental teams) as they've been pretty weak over the period and conditions aren't particularly foreign, New Zealand for western teams for the same reason, and West Indies or Zimbabwe at all (England seem to have an issue beating them in the West Indies of late, but otherwise they have been a very weak side, only beating Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the time).
The worst aspect of all to me is the subcontinental divide - subcontinent teams can't tour outside it, while western teams can't travel there - South Africa in Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka in England are pretty much the only examples of cross-over victories in the last five years, out of over 30 series played between subcontinent and non-subcontinent teams.
It's just getting boring.