Remember The Ashes

One hundred and thirty four years ago, on this day in 1882, the Australian touring team beat England at cricket for the first time in England.  It was a devastating defeat for the English team and their supporters. A few days later, the obituary (see right) was published in the Sporting Times.

Not content with public lamentations, a group of supporters burned one of the bails from the wicket used that fateful day, and collected “the ashes”. They have remained within a tiny urn until this day, and the Ashes — as matches between Australia and England are called — remain perhaps the most bitterly fought regular contest in sport anywhere.

England currently hold the Ashes after their victory in 2015.