With the ‘big three’ – England, India and Australia – regularly playing each other, here’s a look at six cricket tours we have been denied for more than a decade.
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match awards, player interviews, analysis and much more.
England-Zimbabwe tours
England last toured Zimbabwe in 2004, and the two sides have not played each other at all since the 2007 World T20. Political unrest has been the key cause, with the ECB cutting ties with Zimbabwe back in 2008 during the Robert Mugabe regime.
India-Pakistan tours
Political issues have derailed one of the great cricketing rivalries. India last toured Pakistan for a bilateral series in 2006; Pakistan last visited India for a bilateral Test series the following year. We haven’t seen an India-Pakistan Test match since 2007, and there’s no contest cricket fans have been waiting for more.
Zimbabwe tour of Australia
The last time Zimbabwe toured Australia, Matthew Hayden was still Australia’s opener in all formats. The long gap could end later this year when Zimbabwe are expected to tour Australia for an ODI series that was originally scheduled for last year and there are hopes for a one-off Test, too.
South Africa tour of West Indies
There was a tri-series in 2016, but the last time South Africa toured West Indies for a bilateral series was more than a decade ago in 2010. That is set to end a couple of months from now with West Indies announcing a bumper home summer that involves two Tests and five T20Is against the visiting South African side.
Bangladesh tour of Australia
Australia toured Bangladesh last in 2017, but the reverse has not happened since, 2008 when Bangladesh played three ODIs in Australia. The only Test series between these teams in Australia came in 2003 when the hosts beat the minnows 2-0.
Bangladesh tour of England
Bangladesh’s tours of England have rare, with the last taking place in 2010 – a two-match Test and a three-match ODI series, both of which England won. England have, however, toured Bangladesh in the interim (in 2016) where they levelled the Test series and won the ODIs 2-1.
