The Ashes is one of the most celebrated and oldest rivalries in cricket, dating back to 1882. It is a Test series played between England and Australia, usually consisting of five matches, alternating between the two countries. The winner of the series holds the Ashes trophy, which is a replica of a small urn that contains the ashes of a burnt cricket bail.
But why is England vs Australia so iconic? And how did the Ashes legend begin? Let us find out the history of The Ashes in this article.
Why is England vs Australia called The Ashes?
The origin of the term “The Ashes” can be traced back to a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, The Sporting Times, on September 2, 1882. It was written after Australia’s first Test win on English soil, at The Oval, by seven runs.
The obituary declared that “English cricket had died” and “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” The humorous article sparked a sporting rivalry between the two nations, and the next winter, an English team led by Ivo Bligh toured Australia with the aim of “regaining those ashes.”
After winning two of the three Tests, Bligh was presented with a small terracotta Urn by a group of Melbourne women, including Florence Morphy, whom he later married. The urn was said to contain the ashes of a wooden bail and was described as “the ashes of Australian cricket”.
At that time, England and Australia were the only two Test-playing nations in the world, and their matches were considered as the pinnacle of cricket. The urn became a symbol of their cricketing supremacy and pride. And hence began the history of The Ashes.
History of The Ashes
The first official Test series between England and Australia was played in 1876-77 in Australia, which England won by 2-1. However, the Ashes legend started from the solitary Test played in 1882 at The Oval, which Australia won by seven runs.
Since then, there have been 71 Ashes series played between the two sides, with Australia winning 34, England winning 32, and six series drawn. The longest winning streak in history of The Ashes belongs to Australia, who held the Ashes for eight consecutive series from 1989 to 2005.
The most successful individual players are Sir Donald Bradman of Australia, who scored 5,028 runs in 37 Tests at an average of 89.78, and Shane Warne of Australia, who took 195 wickets in 36 Tests at an average of 23.25.
Some of the most memorable moments in history of The Ashes include:
- The Bodyline series of 1932-33, when England devised a controversial tactic of bowling fast and short at the body of the Australian batsmen with a packed leg-side field to counter the brilliance of Bradman. England won the series by 4-1 amid accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct and diplomatic tensions.
- The Invincibles tour of 1948, when Bradman led an Australian team that remained unbeaten throughout their tour of England. They won the Ashes by 4-0, and Bradman scored his famous duck in his final Test innings at The Oval.
- The Botham’s Ashes series of 1981, when Ian Botham inspired England to a remarkable comeback after being forced to resign as captain following two heavy defeats. He scored a swashbuckling century at Headingley and took five wickets at Edgbaston and Old Trafford to help England win the series by 3-1.
- The Greatest Test series of 2005, when England ended Australia’s 16-year dominance by winning a thrilling series by 2-1. The series featured several close matches and dramatic twists and turns, such as Andrew Flintoff’s heroics at Edgbaston and The Oval, Kevin Pietersen’s maiden century at The Oval, Shane Warne’s 40 wickets, Brett Lee’s batting and bowling exploits, and the controversial umpiring decisions.
- The Miracle of Headingley in 2019, when Ben Stokes played one of the greatest innings in Test history to guide England to a one-wicket victory after being 286 runs behind on the first innings and 73 runs short with one wicket left on the fourth day. Stokes scored an unbeaten 135, including 74 runs in an unbroken last-wicket stand with Jack Leach, who scored only one run.
The Ashes series has been a showcase of cricketing excellence, passion, and drama for over a century. It has produced some of the finest players, performances, and moments in the history of the game.
It has also fostered a fierce but respectful rivalry between England and Australia, who share a common love for cricket and its traditions. The Ashes is more than just a trophy; it is a legacy that transcends generations and borders.
