NO cricket contest is considered to be as high profile as the one between England and Australia which is dubbed famously as ‘The Ashes’. Another exciting Ashes series starts today at the SWALEC stadium with England hoping to snatch back the trophy which they lost in that historic drubbing Down Under in 2013-14.

Although the first-ever Test of history was played between the two nations at the MCG in 1877, the Ashes Tests began from the 1882-83 series in Australia. Its history is a fascinating one indeed. When Australia defeated England at The Oval in 1882 in the only match played which was England’s first loss on their home soil, it prompted The Sporting Times newspaper to publish a mock obituary of the English games, saying that England’s cricket has died and it is going to be cremated and the Ashes would be presented to the then captain Ivo Bligh.

That was done in 1882-83 three-match series in Australia when a lady Florence Murphy burnt a pair of cricket bails and then put the ashes in an urn to present it to the England captain Bligh. That is how it all started. The content of the urn, however, still remain in dispute.

In the 138 years of Test cricket history, Australia still lead with 32 series wins as compared to England’s 31. The most infamous of The Ashes series were the ‘Bodyline’ series played in Australia in 1932 when the Bombay-born England captain Douglas Jardine of Scottish stock instructed his bowlers Harold Larwood, Bill Bowes, Bill Voce and Gubby Allen to bowl in line of the body of the Australian batsmen with a packed leg-side field.

That was mostly to stop the run glut of the great Don Bradman. Jardine’s tactics were severely criticised by both the hosts and even at home in England.

Times have changed today, however, not the moods of the players of either side who continue with the legacy that they have inherited — of fighting fiercely on the field for victory and taunting and sledging at each other, more so when the situation gets tense.

The current series is not going to be much different as players from either side continue to build pressure on each other, promising a tough battle in the middle.

England, having drawn a mini series against New Zealand and having won a close ODI series, no doubt are optimistic about striking the first blow and then pressurise Michael Clarke’s men to bow down in conditions which are a lot more favourable for England.

Alastair Cook, the English captain, is in top form and now the highest run maker in Tests for his country. But he will need to lift his team by leading from the front against this Australian side which appears determined to beat the arch-rivals. Warner, Roger, Clarke, Smith and their bowlers Johnson, Starc, Hazelwood would no doubt pose huge problems for England and, despite Ryan Harris’ retirement, they will be coming hard at England in their quest of retaining The Ashes.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2015

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