What is the Ashes cricket series?
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Australia's Pat Cummins and teammates pose with the urn and trophies after drawing the series and retaining the Ashes after the fifth Test against England at The Oval in London on July 31, 2023.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SYDNEY - Australia and England have enjoyed a fierce cricketing rivalry for over 140 years. The latest edition of the clash known as the Ashes starts in Perth on Friday.
WHY IS THE SERIES CALLED THE ASHES?
* The name has its origins in a mock obituary in a Britishnewspaper that mourned the death of English cricket following aloss to a touring team from the then Australian colonies in1882. "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken toAustralia," it lamented. * England captain Ivo Bligh fulfilled a pledge to "recoverthose ashes" when he led the team to a series win in Australia afew months later. * The teams play for a crystal trophy and a replica of atiny terracotta urn presented to Bligh which is on permanentdisplay at Lord's cricket ground in London, the spiritual homeof the game. * If the series is drawn, the holders retain the Ashes.
WHY IS THE RIVALRY SO PASSIONATE?
* Originally a children's game, cricket was codified inEngland in the 1740s and successfully exported around theBritish Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. * Early English teams with the means to undertake the longjourney to Australia were invariably "gentlemen", while theiropponents were settlers, not all voluntary, toiling in toughconditions on the fringes of the empire. * Touring England teams would find a hostile media and rowdycrowds laden with chancers, gamblers and the children oftransported convicts keen to see them fail. * Controversies, most notably the "Bodyline" series of the1930s which threatened diplomatic relations between the twonations, have continued at regular intervals to keep thecompetitive fire alive.
WHERE, WHEN AND AT WHAT TIME DO THE MATCHES TAKE PLACE?
* Ashes series alternate between the English and Australiansummers at roughly two-year intervals. * There are five test matches in different cities acrossAustralia in this series, each taking place over a maximum offive days. The matches start mid-morning and run to the earlyevening with breaks for lunch and tea. * The second test is a day-night match, which is played witha pink rather than red ball to make it easier for the players topick it out under the floodlights in the late sessions.
First test November 21-25 Perth 10:30 a.m. (0230 GMT)
Second test December 4-8 Brisbane 02:30 p.m. (0430 GMT)
Third test December 17-21 Adelaide 10:30 a.m. (0000 GMT)
Fourth test December 26-30 Melbourne 10:30 a.m. (2330 GMT)
Fifth test January 4-8 Sydney 10:30 a.m. (2330 GMT)
WHO'S PLAYING AND WHO IS GOING TO WIN?
* Australia have held the Ashes since taking the 2017-18series and have won the last three series on home soil withoutallowing England a single match win. * They have an ageing team, however, and will be withoutcaptain Pat Cummins and his fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewoodfor at least the first match in Perth due to injury. * Cummins, Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and spin bowler NathanLyon have formed one of the most potent bowling attacks in worldcricket for the last decade or so. * Two of the most prolific batters of the modern era,England's Joe Root and Australia's Steve Smith, will be vying toadd to their considerable run tallies. * In recent seasons England have embraced an aggressivestyle of batting, known as "Bazball" after coach Brendon "Baz"McCullum, which they hope will unsettle their hosts. * All-rounder Ben Stokes, captaining England for the firsttime in an Ashes series Down Under, has the ability to turn amatch with both bat and ball. * Strong fast bowling with plenty of back-ups in case ofinjury has been the secret to winning on Australia's hardwickets and England have two of the quicker bowlers in the worldin Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
AUSTRALIA
World ranking: 1
Captain: Pat Cummins (Steve Smith to deputise in first test)
Coach: Andrew McDonald
Top-ranked test batter: Steve Smith (4)
Top-ranked test bowler: Pat Cummins (4)
First test squad: Steve Smith (captain), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett.
ENGLAND
World ranking: 2
Captain: Ben Stokes
Coach: Brendon McCullum
Top-ranked test batter: Joe Root (1)
Top-ranked test bowler: Gus Atkinson (10)
First test squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
HEAD TO HEAD
Matches: 345
Australia wins: 142
England wins: 110
Draws: 93
LAST 10 ASHES SERIES
YEAR HOSTS WINNERS MARGIN
2023 England Drawn 2–2
2021/22 Australia Australia 4–0
2019 England Drawn 2–2
2017/18 Australia Australia 4–0
2015 England England 3–2
2013/14 Australia Australia 5–0
2013 England England 3–0
2010/11 Australia England 3–1
2009 England England 2–1
2006/07 Australia Australia 5–0 REUTERS
