Five rivalries that can match the Ashes

The Ashes is the oldest rivalry in world cricket and no other rivalry can match it when it comes to age, legacy, longevity and the sheer weight of history involved. However, over the years, plenty of new rivalries have developed that might not have the same historical pedigree, but are just as rich in plot points, legacy, competitive edge and the possibility of throwing up engrossing encounters.

As a matter of fact, in the 1990s and early noughties, when the Ashes was hopelessly one-sided, these series ensured that cricket was not bereft of classic rivalries. Here is a look at five rivalries that have often challenged and sometimes even surpassed the Ashes.

#5 Australia-South Africa

Australia and South Africa have been at each other's throats since 1902 when they played the first ever Test series between each other, in South Africa, and ever since then, it has been one of cricket's biggest rivalries.

Before South Africa were banned from cricket, they played against the Australians and beat them 4-0 in 1969-70. The rivalry has always been intense and in fact, Allan Donald once said that the Australian Baggy Green inspired him to bowl a bit faster than normal.

Since South Africa's readmission to cricket, the rivalry has been dominated by Australia (14 series played, 8 won by Australia, 3 by South Africa and 3 drawn), but the quality of cricket has been quite outstanding. In the 1990s and early noughties, it had a far greater appeal than the Ashes since England simply failed to put up a fight against the all-conquering Australians.

#4 Australia-New Zealand

Australia v New Zealand

For as long as anyone can remember, Australia have dominated the rivalry against their Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand and although the Test series are more often than not one-sided, there is no doubt that it remains one of the world's best cricketing rivalries.

The two rivals have played against each other since 1945-46 but it was not until 1985-86 that New Zealand won a series against Australia and it was Richard Hadlee who inspired them to a 2-1 victory at their rival's den. New Zealand dominated Australia in the 1980s and won 3 out of the 6 series (Australia won 1, 2 were drawn) that were played during that decade.

However, New Zealand have failed to win a Test series against Australia since their victory in 1989-90 and while it is true that the Trans-Tasman Trophy has often been one-sided, there is no doubt that it remains one of the world's foremost rivalries. As good as the Ashes? Without a doubt.

#3 England-South Africa

Donald Floors Atherton

As far as historic value is concerned, the England v South Africa Test series, now known as the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy, is right up there with the Ashes. The first series was played in 1888-89. England dominated the rivalry in the early years but after South Africa's readmission to cricket in the early 1990s, it has been extremely even.

11 Test series have been played over the past 24 years, both teams have won 4 series apiece and 3 have been drawn, to make it one of the most engrossing Test series in the cricketing cycle.

Moreover, the series has also seen some of the finest performances over the years. Michael Atherton's near 11-hour vigil at the crease to save the Johannesburg Test in 1995 or Allan Donald's brutal spell in 1998 are some of the high points of this modern rivalry.

#2 India-Australia

Australia v India

This is very much a modern rivalry that sparked into life following the 1980-81 series in Australia and over the years, it has become one of the most fiercely contested Test series in the world.

The two nations played their first Test series in 1947-48 and the rivalry was dominated by Australia for close to three decades before India finally won one in 1979-80. However, it was during the series in 1980-81 that the rivalry truly flourished when, during the Melbourne Test, Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar threatened to walk off with the team after he did not agree with an LBW decision.

In the same game, Kapil Dev took five wickets to dismiss Australia for 83, fashioning a famous win. Over the years, the rivalry has witnessed some of cricket's biggest controversies, with the Monkeygate, the Sydney Test in 2008 and the DRS-gate of 2017 being the notable ones.

The Test series are almost always hotly contested and even in 2017, when every other side was steamrolled in India, Australia were the only ones who gave the hosts a credible fight. Since the turn of the millennium, the rivals have played 10 series. India have won 5, Australia have won 4 and 1 series in Australia in 2003-04 was drawn.

#1 India-Pakistan

A moment in the 2004 Test series in Pakistan

Now, this is a rivalry that can usurp the Ashes in the global popularity stakes, since an Ashes game does not quite turn into a life or death affair that an India-Pakistan game does. In addition to that, a game between these two sides is watched not by millions but billions of people in the two countries and expatriates in different parts of the world.

The pressure is immense on both teams and the baggage of bloody history between the two nations gives the rivalry a different complexion altogether, one that can never be matched by the Ashes. After all, England and Australia have never been at war.

The rivals have played each other in 15 Test series so far. Both sides have won 4 Test series apiece, with the rest ending in draws. That said, the arch-rivals do not play each other often enough and that is a real shame since it is one Test series that can not only match the Ashes but surpass it. The last India-Pakistan Test series was played in 2007-08.