As Aussies retained the Ashes yesterday beating the poms comprehensively, global admiration for this sporting rivalry just keeps finding new takers. The story of Ashes is nothing new. It has been a lore published in numerous column pieces and trivia pages. But for the uninitiated, I am retelling this story today for your pleasure.
The birth of 'Ashes' can be traced back to a satire piece published in the sporting times in 1882. Immediately after the first ever Aussie win at English soil, British tabloids went bonkers, calling this event mercilessly as 'the death of English cricket'. A mock obituary was published mentioning that 'the body will be cremated and the ashes will be taken to Australia.' The following year, this term found its relevance back when the then English captain vowed to bring back 'the Ashes'.
The original mythical silver urn contained the ashes of a burnt bail from the original match. As the myth goes, one of the women fans who presented it to the English captain Ivo Bligh, married him the next year. Bligh's widow then returned a terracota urn years later and there has been a dispute about its authenticity ever since. Thankfully, it was never made the official trophy. Not in its delicate situation anyway. Every year though, a replica is put up for grab or to be retained by previous winner of this biennial test cricket fest.
The pride, the emotions, the marketing is huge and forever in the making. Both the ozzie fans and barmy army fight it out as a 12th man for their respective teams. How tenacious they can be, we just witnessed this year and felt pity for the returning duo Warner and Smith. Some of the legends have become memorable during these great Ashes moments. Arrival of Archer, summer streak of Stokes and supremacy of Smith were just one of the few highlights of this year's edition. And I, a Rajasthan Royals loyal fan, just feel proud of my royal superheroes.
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