ENG Vs AUS Update: Test rivalries are the pinnacle of international cricket. It makes you talk about these clashes and memorable encounters for years and years like it just happened yesterday. However, whenever it comes to The Ashes, the rivalries, the mind games, the verbal volleys, and the penchant for the theatrical goes up a notch, making it a generational rivalry.
There is a rarified air of arrogance between two proud cricketing nations. Two teams that want to earn the bragging rights. In what is the oldest and the most fierce rivalry in Test Cricket’s long and rich history. But what exactly makes the Ashes? How have Test matches between these two nations gained so much attention. And why is it one of the most marquee events in the Test Calendar? We go ahead and take a look at the historical rivalry and how did it come to be called the Ashes.
ENG Vs AUS: The Ashes Is Getting Intense Day By Day, For Sure; Here’s Why!?
For starters, the Ashes is one of the very few Test series that have 5 test matches played between Australia and England. It makes it one of the only two 5-Test series in world cricket (India vs England is the other one, although the next Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will also be of 5 matches). This makes it a marquee event in itself. However, a rivalry that started as a satire has now gone on to the pinnacle of competition with both sets of players going on to say that The Ashes is indeed a bigger event than the WTC final. But why? And how?
The answer goes all the way to 1882, when the first ever Test series between the two nations took place in England. Before that, the two sides had played in Australia. At that point, England were the principal founders of the game. And had some of the best players against an Australian side that was predominantly considered to be canon fodder for the English side in home conditions.
However, at that fateful test at the Oval, the script flipped entirely on its head. The unheralded and unknown Aussies went on to topple the mighty English at their own den. This was, much to the shock and horror of the onlooking Oval crowd. England were unable to score the 85 runs that were required to win the Test. This was courtesy of a brutal spell of fast bowling by Fred Spofforth. He single-handedly dismantled the English batting all by himself. It was a spell that read 4 wickets by conceding just 2 runs.
And The Battle Goes On Till This Day And Age!!
What followed was absolute outrage over the result. The English media was unable to digest the fact that they were overcome at home by the unfancied Aussies. In fact, the furore was so widespread that the Sporting Times went on to publish a mock obituary for the English cricket team in the editorial section which. The obituary 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. R.I.P
N.B- The body will be cremated and the Ashes will be taken to Australia.”
This obituary later on became synonymous with the ensuing rivalry that raged on the last 141 years. Ever since, the Ashes has had a special place in the hearts and minds of cricket fanatics all across the globe. The Ashes is also one of the most evenly contested rivalries. In the 72 series that have ensured, Australia have won it 34 times, England 32 times, and it has been shared 6 times. And if this series is anything to go by, we are in for another all-timer this year.
