The Ashes series is one of the most celebrated cricket events on the calendar. It is a series of five test matches between Australia and England. These two countries are considered the parent of cricket as the first-ever cricket international was also played among these two teams only.
Cricket now is one of the most-viewed sports in the world. This much fame is due to their collaborative steps, which was taken in ancient time to give more recognition to the game. More than just a game, The Ashes brings together two nations to compete with some of their very best players once every two years.
Starting Of Ashes Series
The Ashes is one of the oldest and most prestigious international sporting rivalries in cricket. The history of the ashes series dates back to 1882. The firsts ever ash series was played in 1882 when Australia beat England for the first time in their cricket career.
The story of the origin of Ashes is that one afternoon while drinking at a pub called The White Horse near Lord’s Cricket Ground. He came up with the idea for an Ashes trophy.
The Ashes Trophy was to be made out of wood; to keep the players occupied waiting for the start of play. It was named in honor of ‘The Ashes’, which were still being discussed after English cricket’s defeat in 1882 by the visiting Australians. The first Ashes Test between England and Australia was won by Australia 6-5 on a no-result for rain at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1882.
The Ashes stuck when Sydney News reporter Alfred Jackson called it The Ashes when covering stories related to touring teams from Australia. In 1882-83 England won the first five Tests against Australia. In the very next series, the 8th Test, Australia won.
The following year England proceeded to win all nine matches against Australia. This was a notable reversal of Australian dominance over England success which had been going on since 1858.
A Few Interesting Facts About The Ashes
The term Ashes believed to have been coined by a journalist in 1882 when Australia beat England for the first time. He liked the victorious Australian team to a Phoenix rising out of their ashes, and hence the name stuck.
- The Ashes trophy was first given to England as a souvenir after Australia beat them in the very first Ashes match.
- Sir Don Bradman of Australia is the greatest batsman of all time, who has scored the most runs in Ashes cricket. He has scored a total of 5028 runs only in ashes which are the highest.
- After World War II, The Ashes was contested four times from 1946 to 1954, three of which were won by Australia and the other by England in 1948; since then, it has been played continuously.
- Out of the 129 Test matches between these two countries to date, England has won 43 Tests while Australia has won 65 Tests. 8 Tests ended in draws.
- The highest score ever registered in an Ashes Test match is 481; it is also the highest individual score in Ashes history and was made by Sir Don Bradman playing for Australia against England at Leeds in 1930.
- The shortest Ashes Test match ever played was the 2nd Test of the 1882 series between Australia and England, which England won by nine wickets.
- Don Bradman (Aus) and Jack Hobbs (Eng) are three of only four players to have scored a double century in an Ashes Test match twice; Hobbs’ two double centuries were scored in 1926 and 1930, while Bradman’s were both made at Leeds and Manchester, respectively, and both in 1930 as well.
- The best bowling performance ever made by an English player is 8 for 42; it is also the best bowling performance by any player in an Ashes Test match.
More About The Last Ashes
The last ashes series happened in September 2019. The captain of the England team was Joe Root, and of Australia, the team was Tim Paine. Australia entered this series as the previous champion of the ashes series. But in the ashes of 2019, the series got tied up as both Australia and England won two- two test matches each. The second test match was finished as a draw.
This means that Australia retained their title of champion in ashes. The Ashes series of 2019 was held in England. Australia is leading the score of winning more number of Ashes with total 33 Ashes series in their bag. At the same time, England is only one ash away from leveling the score.