It was in the newspaper titled “Sporting Times” that the sport’s most famous cricketing rivalry came to be named after. Yes, that is very much the fact. It was in 1882 and the term originated from what can only be called a satirical form of Obituary. But why is that? Why name a series ‘The Ashes’ of all things. Did a human/ life form/ species/ person/ soul actually die? Anything but. This obituary stated the fact- a rather bold declaration that England, who had lost the series to Australia, had been done and dusted and hence the obituary was in reference to a certain ‘demise’ if you like (not that demise should be liked) with the context being Australians had beaten the English.
However, not that condescendence is ever a healthy thing, which the Australians, unfortunately, are a master of. Their incitement, which one can note, it was, did lead the English to vow that they would bounce back the very next season or year (1883). But in so doing, the massive rivalry came to life.
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The 1882 Match- and what happened!
This was, will always plays an important part in the context of the Australia versus English contests and for time to come. But then back in the day, it was for the first time ever that Australia and England played a contest for the first time ever at The Oval on English soil. The ground is still hugely popular and is very much in London.
Was their something Called The Mock Obituary
In response, a journalist for The Sporting Times wrote a satirical piece stating that English cricket had died and its ashes would be taken to Australia.
The Quest To Regain The Ashes: When England toured Australia the following year, their captain, Ivo Bligh, vowed to regain the “Ashes”.
What is Meant By The Urn
After England, creators of the sport won that particular series, the urn, which is still small by the way, came to play its part. But what was it and what part did it play?
Here’s what happened!
Apparently, the said urn actually contained the ashes of a burnt cricket bail. You read that right. A burnt cricket bail. The said was presented to Ivo Bligh and those who presented it were a group of Melbourne women. Which also should explain a thing or two as to why Melbourne plays an important part.
This urn, which then had already become the symbolic trophy of the series would eventually play such a huge part that the generations hence, whether Allan Border, Mark Taylor or Shane Warne, Mark Edward Waugh or Dominic Cork, Ian Thorpe, Graeme Hick or Sir Alastair Cook would all vow to win, and when then, then regain the Ashes.
So there you have it. If you think that India versus Pakistan or Australia versus New Zealand are the only two rivalries out there, then think again; it’s very much The Ashes. But forget not- it all started and still is about – two amazing sides’ fetish, passion, call what you may to win an urn that continues to house the ‘ashes’ not of a living being (thank god, Jesus you are great) but that of the bails.
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