The History Behind The ASHES Series - CricPlanet

We knew how much craze between India and Pakistan matches when they face each other in any format of the game. A similar craze for the Australia and England fans, when these two teams play the ASHES Series. The cricket war between Australia and England was started in 1882, 139 years ago. (By the time I'm writing this) According to a survey (Worldwide) in 2006, 77% of the cricket fans voted Ashes Series over World Cup, just imagine how craze it was.

Some questions raises in every cricket fans mind, those are:

Why the Test series between AUS and ENG called ‘ASHES’?

Why they are playing for ASHES?

Why only AUS and ENG play this series?

Whose Ashes are those?

Now, let’s get clarified all these questions.

Australian Cricket Team

In 1877, the first ever International cricket was played between Australia and England in Melbourne. Since then, these two teams started playing one Test series each year, one series in Australia and other in England. While playing in home conditions, home team always wins the match. (AUS wins in AUS and ENG wins in ENG) This happened for 5 years.

But on 28^th August 1882, Australia came to England (Oval stadium in London) to play a Test series. (one-off test match, 3 day match and 4 balls per over)

Australia won the toss and chosen to bat first, Australia finished their 1^st innings with 63 (all out) and 8 batsmen were got out for a single digit score. Later England finished their 1^st innings with 101 (all out) and got a lead of 38 runs.

Then Australia got all out with 122 runs in their 2^nd innings. The target for England is 85 runs. England failed to chase the target, scored only 77 runs and Australia won the match by 7 runs. England lost the series for the first time on their home soil.

Ashes Series 1882 Scorecard

England fans cannot digest the loss in their own backyard and their own media (The Sporting Times) wrote an article which says “An Affectionate Remembrance of ENGLISH CRICKET which died at the Oval on 29^th August 1882, deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.”

Later, Ivo Bligh appointed as the England captain. Ivo Bligh took the article as prestigious matter and pledged that “Next time when England tours to Australia, make our team win and bring back the Ashes.” And then English media named the next series (1882-83) as “The Quest to Regain the Ashes”.

In December 1882. England went to Australia to play 3 match Test series. On 30^th December 1882, England lost the 1^st Test match in Melbourne. But later in January 1883, England won the remaining two matches and won the series 2-1.

At the same time after England won the series, some group of women burned the wicket bails and gifted those Ashes to Captain Ivo Bligh in an Urn. (A type of vessel)

This became very prestigious matter to the Australia and England fans and it became a new norm for the teams to win the series and to bring back the Ashes to home.

Later captain Ivo Bligh married Florence Rose Morphy. (She is one of the person who is in the group of women gifted the Ashes Urn in Melbourne in 1883) The Urn which is presented after the series win in 1883 is considered as the personal gift to Ivo Bligh.  So, the series got the name “ASHES” but, there’s no physical trophy to represent the winning team. They tried to replicate the Ashes Urn which Ivo Bligh has. After Ivo Bligh passed away in 1927, his wife Florence Morphy gifted Ashes Urn to the Lords Cricket Club and it’s became the official trophy.

But in 1998, a new crystal trophy was presented to the winners as the original Ashes Urn is very small. Since then the winner was presented with the crystal trophy.

ASHES Stats: (Overall)

Total Series – 71

Australia Won – 33

England Won – 32

Draw – 6

Batting Stats:

Most runs – Sir Donald Bradman (5028 in 37 matches)

Most centuries (19)

Bowling Stats:

Most wickets – Shane Warne (195 in 36 matches)

Most 10 wicket hauls – Shane Warne and Thomas Richardson (4)

Fielding Stats:

Most catches – Sir Ian Botham (54 in 32 matches)

Now, the 72^nd Ashes Series (5 matches) will play in Australia from 8th December.

All the stats are as on 7^th December, 2021.