All you need to know about England vs Australia series “The Ashes”

“The Ashes” series began in 1882 when England lost to Australia by eight runs in their own backyard. Find out all you need to know about “The Ashes.”

The coveted “The Ashes” series, which is being played between the two teams today, began in 1882 when England lost to Australia by eight runs in their own backyard. Australia visited England in August 1882 to play a Test match. Australia lost their first innings of batting after being bowled out for only 63 runs, giving the English team a commanding lead in the Test.

Due to the potent periods of Ted Peate (4/31) and Dick Barlow (5/19), only Jack Blackham (17) and Billy Murdoch (13) were able to hit scores above ten. All other batters collapsed. In response, England could not summon much either as visitors got all out for just 101 thanks to medium pacer Frederick Spofforth’s 7/46. Only Maurice Read (19*) and George Ulyett (26), though, could play some passable knocks. However, England was able to take some solace from their slim 38-run advantage against Australia.

In Australia’s second inning, the hitters’ misery continued. Despite playing some excellent innings, Hugh Massie (55) and skipper Murdoch (29) were unable to prevent his team from posting another low total. Australia’s lead, which was just 85 runs long, did not provide them with a significant edge. With 4/40, Ted Peate once again shone for England.

WG Grace scored 32 on the second day of the match, but England lost the Test. When Ted Peate, the final hitter for England, stepped up to the plate, the team still needed 10 runs to win. Only two run could be scored before he got out. England lost a Test at home after being all out for 77 runs. In the second inning, Frederick Spofforth maintained his incredible run by capturing 7/44.

The press received a ton of criticism after the game. The classic words that gave rise to “The Ashes” and heightened the rivalry between England and Australia were written by The Sporting Times, a weekly English newspaper at the time.

“In Fond Memory Of English Cricket, Which Died At The Oval On August 29, 1882, Deeply Lamented By A Large Circle Of Sorrowful Friends And Acquaintances. The fake obituary for English cricket, which read, “R. I. P. N.B.–The body will be cremated and the ashes will be taken to Australia,” set off a rivalry that would alter the game for all time.

With this, cricket gained a treasure it could treasure as well as its first significant rivalry prior to the emergence of the India vs Pakistan rivalry. On the cricket pitch, an urn known as “The Ashes urn” evolved to represent this rivalry and to serve as a prize worth battling for. It’s thought to be made out of the remains of a burned cricket bail.

In December of that year, Australia hosted the inaugural Ashes series. England returned “The Ashes” to England after winning the series 2-1. Since then, there have been 72 iterations of this series, the majority of which included five Test matches. Australia has won 34 of these series, while England isn’t far behind with 32 victories. There have been six draws in series. With 5,028 runs, Australian great Don Bradman leads the Ashes record book. With 195 to his credit, late Australian spin legend Shane Warne holds the record for most Ashes wickets.