The Ashes 2013: Looking at the Aussies' chances

The current Australian squad for the Ashes

Not many are aware, but cricket’s history is a vividly colourful one. Of course, as is the case with almost all of histories, the myths and legends associated with it make the past all the more entertaining, the most popular one probably of a woman in an uncomfortably tight petticoat bowling the first ever over-arm ball. But the reason we believe in such things is because cricket’s history is indeed very strange and funny.

Not until their eighth meeting did Australia defeat England, way back on a sunny day in August 1882. The shock of the defeat was so massive, that it was reported that a man died of a severe heart-attack in the stands. Papers across England ran mock obituaries flagging off the ‘end of English cricket as we know it’. But one of the most popular pieces of cricket journalism was published a week after the loss in The Sporting Times.

An affectionate remembrance – Detail from a page of the issue dated September 2nd, referring to the ‘death ‘of English cricket as a result of the match between England and Australia at the Oval on the 29th August, 1882

The English were made out to be a group of babbling buffoons, losing to their colonists (even after having to chase a measly 85 runs) leaving a strange, and forgive me for saying this, Lagaan-like atmosphere in the Australian dressing room.

The next time the two met, it was widely publicized that England were going to recover the aforementioned ashes. And that’s how the name came about.

Since then, contests between the two sides have proven to be the most thrilling and gut-busting Test cricket has ever seen. Right from the famous first loss, to the Bodyline series, to the ‘ball of the century’, the Ashes has seen far more than any other bilateral series ever has. And the rivalry between the two leaves players frothing in the mouth and often resorting to nasty verbal duels, though adds to the flavour, isn’t as entertaining as the cricket on display.