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WELL DONE ENGLAND

ArnoldLayne wrote: Finally today after about 7 weeks and 5 test matches, England regained the Ashes from Australia, 2-1.



This test series has been regarded as probably the best ever witnessed. And certainly as an Englishman, watching the greatest spin bowler that ever lived, Australian Shane Warne, was just a privilige. The game was played with extraordinary sportsmanship from both sides.



England wrapped up the series with an innings of 158 by Pieterson, after Australia (or rather Warne ) started to take early wickets.



Americans amongst you will probably have little if any interest in cricket but one American was unexpectedly seen spectating from the Ozzy balcony. Director Ron Howard. Will he take it home and convince Americans what a wonderful game this is ? I doubt it !



Congratulations to England on a deserved victory and thanks Australia for making it a great series. See you down under in a couple of years !


I haven't been so interested in cricket since the days of Ian Botham...I have listened to most of it on the radio...Five Live...and have really been entertained with all the links ups, opinions etc....well done the English team, The Aussies...very gracious in defeat and the BBC for making thier broadcast so entertaining.....glad you enjoyed it too Arnold.

im not exactly a cricket fan but ive got to send out a big load of congratuations to our boys

WELL DONE ENGLAND :yh_clap :yh_dance :yh_party

Thats great, I suppose being a Brit living in OZ I'll be ignored today. I think I'll just walk around with a smile on my face all day.



Well done England.

BRAVO ENGLAND WELL DONE..

Oh, if ONLY I knew what you were so enthused about!..It's hard being ignorant... but I defend to the death your right to enjoy cricket!

I don't want to talk about it...





In all seriousness, it was a great series. I don't think the Aussies have been challenged by such a hard fought series in quite a long time. It was a great effort by all, and certainly an entertaining series.



But never fear, we'll be back!! Them ashes are OURS!!!!

PurpleChicken wrote: I don't want to talk about it...





In all seriousness, it was a great series. I don't think the Aussies have been challenged by such a hard fought series in quite a long time. It was a great effort by all, and certainly an entertaining series.



But never fear, we'll be back!! Them ashes are OURS!!!!

Cheer up chick, now you know how we felt for 16 years :wah:

Flouncey wrote: I have throughlly enjoyed this series and have been impressed by the excellent sportsmanship shown by both teams.

I think England deserved to win the ashes because they were the better team overall. But all credit to Australia, they contributed so much to the series as well and the bowling of warne in particular was awesome.

I'm so pleased we have regained the ashes, well done to all concerned.


I'm so proud to be British today....all those people 100,00 + in Trafalgar square singing Jerusalem....made me go all goose pimply...:-6

You guys should hear the media over here. They keep trying to look for answers for why we lost. The team is too old, too many missed chances, etc. Don't know why they can't accept that we were just beaten by a better team. I mean, come on, it's been 16 years, we've gotta lose sometime!

What are the ashes?

Got a nice bit of Wembley turf for you if you want to make me an offer. Too bad the next serties will be on Sky sports-not that I was going to watch it anyway if I'm being honest. Nice to see England win something even if it means it will be replayed every time they lose again like the 1966 world cup gets replayed every year:sneaky:

Seriously though what are the ashes?

World downhill mountain bike championships were on at Fort William this weekend, wouldn''t mind seeing that on TV, The record is four minutes 20 secondbit more interesting than football all the time and the fastest growing sport in the UK. Was watching off road skateboarding the other week, now that really is insane

Ashes History: The early years



The origins of cricket's oldest international contest go back to 1882, when the third Australian team to tour England achieved the unthinkable.

Until then, the English had never been beaten on home soil, but Australia, led by by WL Murdoch, shocked the "Mother Country".

England, with the legendary WG Grace in their ranks, lost by seven runs, Aussie fast bowler Fred Spofforth taking 14 wickets for 90 runs.

The following day, a mock obituary ran in the Sporting Times "in affectionate remembrance of English cricket, which died at the Oval on 29th August, 1882".

Ashes history 1882: Eng 0-1 Aus

1882-83: Aus 1-2 Eng*

1884: Eng 1-0 Aus

1884-85: Aus 2-3 Eng

1886: Eng 3-0 Aus

1886-87: Aus 0-2 Eng

1887-88: Aus 0-1 Eng

1888: Eng 2-1 Aus

1890: Eng 2-0 Aus

1891-92: Aus 2-1 Eng

1893: Eng 1-0 Aus

1894-95: Aus 2-3 Eng

1896: Eng 2-1 Aus

1897-98: Aus 4-1 Eng

1899: Eng 0-1 Aus

1901-02: Aus 4-1 Eng 1903-1938

1946-1968

1970-2001



It added: "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia."

Those mythical ashes became a reality when the next England team to tour Australia.

The Hon Ivo Bligh was presented with an urn containing the burnt remains of a bail after beating the home side 2-1*.

Thus "The Ashes" were now a tangible sporting prize, although they remain in the safekeeping of cricket's spiritual home, Lord's.

After regaining their honour, England went on to win the next seven Ashes contests, starting with the first home Test series against Australia in 1884.

That winter, England beat Australia 3-2 in the first five-Test series Down Under.

But it was a tour marred by controversy, including a walkout by the Aussies over payment and a fight in the first match.

Better shape

England underlined their superiority in 1886 with a 3-0 win, again in Australia with a 2-0 triumph (1886-87), and also won the single Test of their 1887-88 tour.

The Aussies were in better shape that summer in England, winning the first Test, but went down by an innings in the second and third.

Once again, some good bowling was let down by poor batting on their 1890 tour, as England, led by WG Grace, triumphed 2-0.

The Australians finally reclaimed the Ashes when England toured in 1891-92, beating Grace's team 2-1. But the English turned the tables with a 1-0 win in 1893's three-match series.

Legends XI: WG Grace

They ran out 3-2 touring winners in 1894-95, and won 2-1 in the last entire Ashes series under Grace's captaincy in 1896.

It was England's final Ashes triumph of the Victorian era, however, as Australia reeled off four successive wins.

They won 4-1 at home in 1897-98, then 1-0 on tour in 1899, when, at the age of 51, Grace played his last Test.

The Australians won 4-1 again as hosts in 1901-02, and 2-1 on their travels in 1902.

* The Australians actually won a fourth match between the teams, but it is regarded as unofficial.