CRICKET: RETURN TO ASHES

Published July 28, 2019
Flashback to August 1975 as rival captains Tony Greig of England and his Australian counterpart Ian Chappell survey the damaged pitch during the third Ashes Test at Headingley
Flashback to August 1975 as rival captains Tony Greig of England and his Australian counterpart Ian Chappell survey the damaged pitch during the third Ashes Test at Headingley

With the razzmatazz of the 2019 ICC World Cup now consigned to the history books, our focus reverts to the good old field of Test cricket with the traditional white kit and red ball.

The biggest rivalry in the cricketing world is that of England and Australia. There is no bigger battle than these great teams fighting it out for that famous little six-inch or roughly 15cm tall urn — popularly known as the Ashes — made of terracotta and containing the residues of a burnt wooden cricket bail.

Although England and Australia played in cricket’s inaugural Test match in March 1877, the first Ashes series was not conceptualised until Australia’s first-ever victory on English soil five years later. The name ‘Ashes’ first appeared in a tongue-in-cheek obituary published by a British newspaper The Sporting Times, which read: “In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval on 29 August, 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances, the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.”

The fact that England are now the world champions in the 50-over format in cricket has made prospects of the upcoming Ashes series on English soil all the more exciting

Over the years, the urn has actually never been the official trophy of the Ashes series since it is in the custody of the MCC Museum at Lord’s and only replicas are held aloft by the team as a symbol of their series win. However, a Waterford Crystal imitation of the urn — known as the Ashes Trophy — has been presented to the winners in recent series.

Hosted in turn by England and Australia once every two years, a total of 70 Ashes series have been staged thus far, with Australia narrowly leading 33-32, while only five series have been drawn. In terms of individual achievements, Sir Donald Bradman overwhelmingly leads the batting chart with a colossal 5,028 runs in a mere 37 Tests, and his Australian compatriot Shane Warne heads the bowling column with 195 wickets from 36 matches.

While there have been countless unforgettable moments during the 137-year history of the Ashes, the one that readily comes to mind is the dismissal for a second-ball duck of Bradman in his final innings, by spinner Eric Hollies at The Oval in 1948. Had that remarkable run-machine scored four, he would have finished his illustrious Test career with an unbelievable batting average of exactly 100!

Another feat which will probably never be beaten is when England’s off-spinner Jim Laker returned incredible match figures of 19-90 (9-37 in the first innings and 10-53 in the second) in 68 overs. The only other wicket was taken by fellow spinner Tony Lock who claimed the first wicket that Australia lost at Old Trafford in 1956.

From England’s perspective, the upcoming five-match series arrives after a stunning turnaround on the ODI front. The newly-crowned global champions of the 50-over format will take the field at Edgbaston from August 1 with considerable sanguinity in the ranks and a self-belief that they are copiously capable of regaining the Ashes they surrendered Down Under in tame fashion during the 2017-18 series, when the Aussies walloped them 4-0.

The difference this time is that England head straight into the Ashes series as the World Cup winners, something they never managed before since the inception of the one-day tournament in 1975, whereas Australia have figured in the far more series than their rivals after winning the World Cup. In the 1989, 2001, 2002-03, 2005, 2006-07, 2009, 2010-11, 2015 and 2017-18 Ashes series, Australia went in as World Cup Champions, and emerged victorious in five out of nine of those rubbers.

It’s sheer coincidence that the birth of One-Day International cricket came about during an Ashes series in 1970-71, when the third Test of the maiden six-match rubber was abandoned without a ball being bowled, due to the incessant rain in Melbourne. The administrators decided to play a limited-overs game on January 5 to compensate for the revenue losses, while adding an additional Test to the itinerary.

And since the coming series is correlated with a World Cup year, it would be an appropriate opportunity to shed light on some of the memorable — and rather bleak — moments during the Ashes Tests staged in England since that inaugural World Cup 44 years ago. Then Australia had stayed on for the Ashes defence after the competition had concluded, in a hastily arranged four-match rubber that replaced a scrapped tour by then isolated South Africa.

The Ian Chappell-led Australia were comprehensive winners in the opening Test at Edgbaston by an innings — a result that ended the career of Scotland-born England captain Mike Denness — before the home side, now led by Tony Greig, began showing the grit and determination previously missing in the drawn second game at Lord’s. The third Test was tantalisingly poised when Australia, chasing 445, reached 220-3 on the penultimate day. But to the horror of cricket followers, the match was abandoned as a draw after protestors — who were demanding the release from jail of an armed robber named George Davis — dug up parts of the Headingley playing square overnight and poured motor oil on the pitch.

England Australia do battle for this little urn
England Australia do battle for this little urn

If there were one series that changed England’s mindset from deep misery to utter glory, it came during that unforgettable Ian Botham summer of 1981 — in the first of five series involving six Tests — when Botham regained his reputation as a legendary all-rounder in a sensational manner. That was after stepping down as captain following defeat in the first Test at Trent Bridge and then bagging a dreaded ‘pair’ in the drawn Lord’s Test.

Summoned from international retirement the previous year, Mike Brearley’s inspirational leadership guided the hosts to a 3-1 series triumph after Australia dominated the first three days of the third Test at Headingley. Botham engineered a tremendous England comeback after Australia enforced the follow-on with a swashbuckling 149 not out.

But there was still no guarantee of an England victory, because Australia required only 130 to chase on the final afternoon. However, big fast bowler Bob Willis then grabbed 8-43 to seal an 18-run success. Botham’s sensational burst of 5-1 in 28 deliveries condemned the Aussies to a 29-run defeat in the next game at Edgbaston, before his brutal knock of 118 at Old Trafford helped England retain the Ashes as he finished with brilliant all-round contributions of 399 runs and 34 wickets.

Australia, subsequently, built a squad of world-beaters who figured prominently in embarrassing the Englishmen on subsequent Ashes trips from 1989 to 2001. Allan Border led them to a 4-0 victory in 1989 in a series that saw young Steve Waugh finally stamp his class with the first two centuries of a glittering career. Warne hogged the limelight in 1993 with 34 wickets after delivering the ‘Ball of the Century’ with his first delivery in an Ashes Test — a curling leg-break that flummoxed Mike Gatting at Old Trafford — as Australia sealed the rubber 4-1 even though England recorded their first win in 19 Tests against them.

The pattern of Australia’s dominance continued in 1997 under Mark Taylor with a 3-2 win, the highlights of that series obviously being Waugh’s twin centuries on a treacherous Manchester track. Leading the ruthless side of 2001 that crushed England 4-1, Waugh played one of the bravest innings during his final Test on English soil. Despite tearing his calf muscle in the series-wrapping third Test in Nottingham and missing the defeat in Leeds, the doughty captain hobbled virtually on one leg to an incredible 157 not out while leading Australia to an innings victory.

Since then, England have won every series they hosted against Australia — 2-1 in 2005 and 2009; 3-0 in 2013 and 3-2 in 2015, after the visitors were blown off their feet by Stuart Broad’s inspired burst of 8-15 as they capitulated in 18.3 overs for a measly 60 in the opening session of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge. They are firm favourites this time to repeat the dose as Test leader Joe Root’s charges seek to put the icing on the World Cup cake! This against a Tim Paine-led side which was still being finalised with Australia trying to put an end to an 18-year winless Ashes drought on English soil.

ith the razzmatazz of the 2019 ICC World Cup now consigned to the history books, our focus reverts to the good old field of Test cricket with the traditional white kit and red ball.

The biggest rivalry in the cricketing world is that of England and Australia. There is no bigger battle than these great teams fighting it out for that famous little six-inch or roughly 15cm tall urn — popularly known as the Ashes — made of terracotta and containing the residues of a burnt wooden cricket bail.

Although England and Australia played in cricket’s inaugural Test match in March 1877, the first Ashes series was not conceptualised until Australia’s first-ever victory on English soil five years later. The name ‘Ashes’ first appeared in a tongue-in-cheek obituary published by a British newspaper The Sporting Times, which read: “In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval on 29 August, 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances, the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.”

Over the years, the urn has actually never been the official trophy of the Ashes series since it is in the custody of the MCC Museum at Lord’s and only replicas are held aloft by the team as a symbol of their series win. However, a Waterford Crystal imitation of the urn — known as the Ashes Trophy — has been presented to the winners in recent series.

Hosted in turn by England and Australia once every two years, a total of 70 Ashes series have been staged thus far, with Australia narrowly leading 33-32, while only five series have been drawn. In terms of individual achievements, Sir Donald Bradman overwhelmingly leads the batting chart with a colossal 5,028 runs in a mere 37 Tests, and his Australian compatriot Shane Warne heads the bowling column with 195 wickets from 36 matches.

While there have been countless unforgettable moments during the 137-year history of the Ashes, the one that readily comes to mind is the dismissal for a second-ball duck of Bradman in his final innings, by spinner Eric Hollies at The Oval in 1948. Had that remarkable run-machine scored four, he would have finished his illustrious Test career with an unbelievable batting average of exactly 100!

Another feat which will probably never be beaten is when England’s off-spinner Jim Laker returned incredible match figures of 19-90 (9-37 in the first innings and 10-53 in the second) in 68 overs. The only other wicket was taken by fellow spinner Tony Lock who claimed the first wicket that Australia lost at Old Trafford in 1956.

From England’s perspective, the upcoming five-match series arrives after a stunning turnaround on the ODI front. The newly-crowned global champions of the 50-over format will take the field at Edgbaston from August 1 with considerable sanguinity in the ranks and a self-belief that they are copiously capable of regaining the Ashes they surrendered Down Under in tame fashion during the 2017-18 series, when the Aussies walloped them 4-0.

The difference this time is that England head straight into the Ashes series as the World Cup winners, something they never managed before since the inception of the one-day tournament in 1975, whereas Australia have figured in the far more series than their rivals after winning the World Cup. In the 1989, 2001, 2002-03, 2005, 2006-07, 2009, 2010-11, 2015 and 2017-18 Ashes series, Australia went in as World Cup Champions, and emerged victorious in five out of nine of those rubbers.

It’s sheer coincidence that the birth of One-Day International cricket came about during an Ashes series in 1970-71, when the third Test of the maiden six-match rubber was abandoned without a ball being bowled, due to the incessant rain in Melbourne. The administrators decided to play a limited-overs game on January 5 to compensate for the revenue losses, while adding an additional Test to the itinerary.

And since the coming series is correlated with a World Cup year, it would be an appropriate opportunity to shed light on some of the memorable — and rather bleak — moments during the Ashes Tests staged in England since that inaugural World Cup 44 years ago. Then Australia had stayed on for the Ashes defence after the competition had concluded, in a hastily arranged four-match rubber that replaced a scrapped tour by then isolated South Africa.

The Ian Chappell-led Australia were comprehensive winners in the opening Test at Edgbaston by an innings — a result that ended the career of Scotland-born England captain Mike Denness — before the home side, now led by Tony Greig, began showing the grit and determination previously missing in the drawn second game at Lord’s. The third Test was tantalisingly poised when Australia, chasing 445, reached 220-3 on the penultimate day. But to the horror of cricket followers, the match was abandoned as a draw after protestors — who were demanding the release from jail of an armed robber named George Davis — dug up parts of the Headingley playing square overnight and poured motor oil on the pitch.

If there were one series that changed England’s mindset from deep misery to utter glory, it came during that unforgettable Ian Botham summer of 1981 — in the first of five series involving six Tests — when Botham regained his reputation as a legendary all-rounder in a sensational manner. That was after stepping down as captain following defeat in the first Test at Trent Bridge and then bagging a dreaded ‘pair’ in the drawn Lord’s Test.

Summoned from international retirement the previous year, Mike Brearley’s inspirational leadership guided the hosts to a 3-1 series triumph after Australia dominated the first three days of the third Test at Headingley. Botham engineered a tremendous England comeback after Australia enforced the follow-on with a swashbuckling 149 not out.

But there was still no guarantee of an England victory, because Australia required only 130 to chase on the final afternoon. However, big fast bowler Bob Willis then grabbed 8-43 to seal an 18-run success. Botham’s sensational burst of 5-1 in 28 deliveries condemned the Aussies to a 29-run defeat in the next game at Edgbaston, before his brutal knock of 118 at Old Trafford helped England retain the Ashes as he finished with brilliant all-round contributions of 399 runs and 34 wickets.

Australia, subsequently, built a squad of world-beaters who figured prominently in embarrassing the Englishmen on subsequent Ashes trips from 1989 to 2001. Allan Border led them to a 4-0 victory in 1989 in a series that saw young Steve Waugh finally stamp his class with the first two centuries of a glittering career. Warne hogged the limelight in 1993 with 34 wickets after delivering the ‘Ball of the Century’ with his first delivery in an Ashes Test — a curling leg-break that flummoxed Mike Gatting at Old Trafford — as Australia sealed the rubber 4-1 even though England recorded their first win in 19 Tests against them.

The pattern of Australia’s dominance continued in 1997 under Mark Taylor with a 3-2 win, the highlights of that series obviously being Waugh’s twin centuries on a treacherous Manchester track. Leading the ruthless side of 2001 that crushed England 4-1, Waugh played one of the bravest innings during his final Test on English soil. Despite tearing his calf muscle in the series-wrapping third Test in Nottingham and missing the defeat in Leeds, the doughty captain hobbled virtually on one leg to an incredible 157 not out while leading Australia to an innings victory.

Since then, England have won every series they hosted against Australia — 2-1 in 2005 and 2009; 3-0 in 2013 and 3-2 in 2015, after the visitors were blown off their feet by Stuart Broad’s inspired burst of 8-15 as they capitulated in 18.3 overs for a measly 60 in the opening session of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge. They are firm favourites this time to repeat the dose as Test leader Joe Root’s charges seek to put the icing on the World Cup cake! This against a Tim Paine-led side which was still being finalised with Australia trying to put an end to an 18-year winless Ashes drought on English soil.

The writer is a member of staff

Published in Dawn, EOS, July 28th, 2019

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