England today has recorded their first victory in Australia in the currently happening Ashes series after twenty four years and they have done it in style by an innings and 71 runs.This was the second of the five test series, first having ended in a draw.Skipper Andrew Strauss of England was euphoric and said "We have got some great momentum in the series and we have to keep it going.We know its got a horrible way of biting you if you pat yourself on the back too much."Australia resumed their second innings on the last day at 238/4 and lost their last 6 batsmen for 66 runs in the first session.6 for 66 is the omen against the Aussies???
This contest takes us back to more than a century when the celebrated rivalry between England and Australia began in 1882. The ashes series is of 5 test matches with 2 innings per match.In 1882 when Australia beat England at Oval , the entire British media were shell shocked and went to the extent of stating that the English cricket had died. The Sporting Times went to the extent of stating the body of English cricket will be created and ashes taken to Australia. The nest tour of England to Australia in 1882-83, the media dubbed as the quest to regain the ashes.During that series to Australia, a group of Melbourne women presented an urn
containing the ashes of possibly a ball.From then on, there has been the contest between Australia and England have been to gain the Ashes trophy.
An interesting event during the 1993 Ashes series in now called the ball or the Gatting ball.This was a match played at Old Trafford, which is traditionally favors spin bowling.Share Warne , an all time
Aussie leg spinner was an inexperienced player having played only 11 test matches up to that point.He, bowled his first ball to Mike Gatting of England who was a renowned , world class player of spin bowling.The leg break delivered by Sharne Warne turned so acutely that Gatting who came forward to take it with bat and pad together found the ball turning more than expected to knock off his bails on the of- stump.Very few such balls have been bowled where the ball has traveled far more than the normally expected spin.
These are some of the interesting stories connected with the rivalry between England and Australia in cricket.
