So the Ashes start today! “What’s are those?”, I hear you cry. Well, it’s the regular grudge match between England and Australia. A battle of the titans, good vs evil (either way), red vs blue, that sort of thing. The weapons of choice? A hard round bludgeoning object, and a long hard wooden other bludgeoning object….oh yeah! No kidding.
Ok. That was an attempt to have you reading a whole paragraph of this post before I mention that it’s a cricket tournament, and then you remember you’ve got to go and ipod a whole bunch of cds of your (now cheekily ironic) ’80’s Britpop.
The country (England!) is all excited. Well, some people are anyway. I don’t really follow cricket much these days (but my sister -cmj to my cvj- does!) but I love the idea that people are still excited about it. I spent part of my youth in the Caribbean, where when the big cricket matches were on, everybody -everybody- needed to know the score, and every other person had a little transistor radio switched on that they carried around with them, so that you could get from one place to another hopping between these crackling sonic stepping stones without every losing touch with the action.
On a side note, I recall the look on JoAnne’s face many years ago when she took me to a baseball game, when after she explained patiently about the game, and apologized that it seemed to go on a bit long to the uninitiated, I calmly reassured her that we had a similar game in the UK, and they go on for…. five days.
-cvj
Links:
You can listen live(!) courtesy of Radio 5. Be aware of the timezone differences of course.
Have a look at the site 334notout for some Ashes information and fun.
There’s a Wikipedia entry on Lord’s Cricket ground, where the first match of the series will be played.
For those of you who think this is just boys’ silliness, on Radio 4 -arguably the best (non-music) radio station on the planet- on today’s “Woman’s Hour” program (I kid you not) there is a special today entitled The Women Behind the Ashes. Listen to (or record) the download fast before they take it down within 24 hours and replace it by the next show (a really annoying feature of the otherwise excellent website).
July 21st, 2005 at 5:01 pm
I would say that cricket gets a bad rap in this country, but I think it’s more like it gets no rap whatsoever here.
My only brushes with cricket have occurred coming back from Antarctica through Christchurch. On my first trip there was a huge test match with England in CHCH — very difficult to find lodging in the city. This would be the match where (if I’m remembering right) Daniel Vettori debuted for NZ. Feb. of 1997, I think. It was a fun time to be in the city, and everything pretty much stopped while the match was in progress.
July 21st, 2005 at 7:35 pm
for a while there, it had to be admitted that the ashes were overhyped, and overshadowed by any half decent india v pakistan series (the first one day game between the two sides last year made international headlines!). however, a resurgent england and a new found relish at dishing back some ‘chin music’ to the aussis will ensure an ashes that lives up to its billing… sorely wishing i was in blighty for the summer…
p.s. baseball, like cricket, takes on a whole new fanatical aspect once you throw in geographical ‘old blood’. (try taking a greyhound bus between boston and new york any night the yankees play the redsox)
July 22nd, 2005 at 3:47 am
Wait, did you just comapre Cricket to Halo?!
August 25th, 2005 at 1:36 pm
As requested, the Ashes so far:
So, the Ashes so far (with some terminological explanation for non-cricket fans). I was a (young) fan in 1981 when Botham and Willis blew the aussies away with the most spectacular victory from the jaws of disaster that I ever saw (even moreso than India surviving the follow-on to beat the evil aussies a few years back, when Laxman spanked them out of the ground, and that’s saying something). I was a dedicated fan all through the 80s, when the West Indies ruled the game but, to me at least, the Ashes matches counted the most. Right through 89 and the following 7 ashes series, all of which brought defeat for England at the hands of an Australian team that became the best in the world, thanks in part to the accelerating (and still not completed) Windies implosion but also on account of a new approach to the game, through which they were guided by their captain Allan Border. At this time, England mostly veered between bad and comically bad, that despite some really very good players (such as Graham Gooch, the hero of every thinking Essex Man).
My situation is that I’d rather England lost every single game to any other country so long as we won the Ashes. As one can imagine, the last 18 years haven’t been very satisfying in this regard, but I never gave up hope, even as I never really expected it to happen. I still don’t, in fact.
Anyway. The situation is that we are in the Fourth Test of this five Test series, and it’s been compulsive (I have listened to it all via the BBC radio Test Match Special on the internet, linked earlier, as I am in the US nowadays). The series, thus far, went like this:
1st Test, Lords. England, in the field, knock Australia over easily and there is much celebration (and incredulity from the Australians). England then underachieve with the bat, McGrath still a great bowler and Warne too, Australia score some runs in their second innings and then England implode. Australia 1-0, and it feels like the old story. Much talk about Banger (Trescothick) being weak against the Aussies, about Strauss having been ‘worked out’ by McGrath and Warne, and about Wheeliebin (Giles, also known as the ‘King of Spain’ thanks to a spelling error in promotional material at Warwickshire Country Cricket Club) being useless. However, some do notice that Australia are basically a two-bowler team (and neither of them is that young anymore), that England bowled them out twice without too much trouble and that Kevin Pieterson, erstwhile saffer (South African), really does merit at least some of the hype.
2nd Test, Edgbaston Amazing game. Before the game starts, it turns out that Glenn McGrath has torn ligaments in his ankle after treading on a cricket ball in a warm-up rugby ball chuck-around. Much hilarity. England bat first (inexplicably put into bat by Australian captain Ricky Ponting after he won the toss) and leather it all over the place. Freddie (Andy Flintoff, large all-rounder, which is to say, he both bats and bowls well) is extraordinary with a quickfire 68 and Pieterson gets his third successive half-ton with 71. England 407 all out in less than a day. Much muttering from former test players that they went for broke too much. Australia bat badly and come in 99 runs short, but easily still in the game. England’s second innings is going badly, thanks to some quality bowling from Warne, Freddie’s hurt his arm with an earlier hefty blow, and things look pretty bad. However, Freddie gets a painkilling injection (’in his bum’ as he pointed out in a post-match interview) and goes crazy, bashing the Aussies to all and sundry and he’s last man out with 73 that included 4 sixes. England have only scored 182 but that leaves Australia needing 282 to win thanks to the first innings deficit. England bowl well, particularly Freddie, who’s still fired up from his batting, and deliver plenty of chin music (short-pitched intimidatory bowling whistling around the batsman’s head) to an Australian batting line-up that appear to be feeling their years and certainly don’t like it up them. However, Warne (having already starred with the ball) and Lee, batting 9th and 10th for Australia, start to bring it back for Australia until Warne falls at 220 and it looks all over for Australia, given that Kasper (Michael Kasprowicz) isn’t famous for his batting prowess. Incredibly, Australia survive (with some fortune) and are just about to win it when Kasper gloves a Harmison short ball to the wicket keeper with the score on 279 and England win by 3 runs. Incredible scenes of celebration and Brett Lee falls to the floor having worn a few (been hit by fast short-pitched deliveries) and gotten so close. As it turns out, Kasper probably wasn’t out as his hand appeared to be off the bat, although complaints aren’t really to be heard (given that Bell and Pieterson were both given out without hitting it, in the England 2nd innings). The series is alive, the next test starts in 4 days, and the game is afoot. For most people, it’s the best game of cricket they’ve ever seen. Ashes fever is really starting to grip the whole country, as football is pushed off the back pages.
3rd Test, Old Trafford McGrath, incredibly, is back in the side, having made an extraordinary recovery from his ankle injury. A huge bonus for Australia, even if they lose the toss and England captain Michael Vaughn correctly decides to bat first. It’s become obvious now that England are confident, even if they aren’t without their faults. Australia couldn’t catch a cold in the field, by their own standards, and their batsmen aren’t doing the job. That is unacceptable when you have a team of 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers. To add to their worries, Dizzy (Jason Gillespie), formerly reliable, is bowling toilet (badly) but the cupboard is pretty bare in the squad, excepting the exciting (but risky) Shaun Tait, of whom more in the next test.
Again, England’s batsmen put Australia to the sword. McGrath’s there but he’s clearly not at his best, Lee’s not doing bad, Warne’s still the best but now Gillespie has graduate to ‘outside toilet’. Vaughny gets a big ton and its England 444 all out at 4 an over. Australia again struggle on a wicket that is bashing the ball so much that the ball starts to reverse swing after 10-15 overs (’reverse swing’ is a deviation in the air that occurs when the ball deteriorates to a certain extent, but is normally not a factor until 50+ overs of 6 balls (bowls) each; furthermore, most bowlers can’t get it to work, but Freddie and Simon Jones both can). Saved the embarassment of the follow-on by Warne getting 90, Australia end up 302 all out and England are in the box seat. England’s second innings features Strauss getting a ton despite taking a hit on the helmet that opens a nasty cut over his ear and they declare on 280 to leave Australia with a mountain to climb. Only the weather can save Australia now. Which it does. The weather delays and some really gutsy batting from Australia force a draw, despite Australia only having one wicket remaining and the batting bunny Glenn Mcgrath at the crease. Another incredible test, full of excitement, and the aussies are celebrating a draw, which they haven’t done for years, I bet. Series remains 1-1.
4th Test, Trent Bridge McGrath’s injured again (sore elbow) and not playing, Dizzy’s been dropped, and Tait and Kasper are picked. England unchanged again. A rain-affected day; England win the toss, bat, threaten to get away but rain and then Tait pegs them back with his first two wickets in test cricket. 229-4 at the end of the first day (only 60 overs bowled). Things look set for tomorrow; honours even so far, but Australia still fielding like a bunch of old ladies.
August 25th, 2005 at 1:44 pm
Wow! Thanks Adam!
-cvj
August 25th, 2005 at 4:24 pm
I did, of course, mean to say that this test series has been ‘compelling’, rather than ‘compulsive’. Honest.
One Ashes series victory would be worth 3 supersymmetric partner particles.
August 25th, 2005 at 4:27 pm
Does it matter if they are all from the same multiplet?
-cvj
August 25th, 2005 at 4:28 pm
I’m easy on that.
If Shane Warne cries, you can have the Higgs to boot.
August 26th, 2005 at 8:39 am
Getting hard to find this thread, as the search function appears not to work for me (I get a bunch of SQL errors).
However, back to the cricket. England were in trouble when Pieterson got out and left us at 241 for 5, but then Freddie flayed the aussies around the ground and got a ton before falling LBW to Tait. The crowd are drunk on excitement. And a lot of beer. Geraint Jones, the Aussie Taff, has scored 70-odd runs. England are 428-6 and anything above 450 would be fine. Over 500 and Australia will be batting to save the game from 3 days out, but I’m not convinced that we’ll get that many runs, as things have slowed up a bit. Wheeliebin and Jones batting at the moment, but with the bat in their hand, like some butterflies, our lower order are spectacular and shortlived. Next wicket may be followed by 3 more in short order.
Good news for England is that Tait is getting some reverse swing, and when it reverse swings the England bowlers have made life hard for the Aussies.
August 26th, 2005 at 9:44 am
477 all out, just before tea, which is now being taken. Pitch looks good, so draw most likely, but we’ll see. Let’s see how the aussies like it; they’ll be looking to get 500 and make the game safe then hope that the England batsmen collapse in their second innings.
Jones fell on 85 then there was some wagging in the tail before Hoggie (Hoggard) finally fell to Warne, who gets 4 wickets in the innings. Some interesting cricket to come, oh yes.
August 26th, 2005 at 12:28 pm
Adam! I just heard on Radio 4 that the Aussies are 99 for 5! They’re being slaughtered! Is that right?
-cvj
August 26th, 2005 at 1:24 pm
Yeah, ended the day at 99 for 5 after Clarke fell lbw to Harmison. They’ve got Katich in, Gilchrist to come (and Gilly is due a score) and then Warne (who’s been batting well) and then batsmen of variable quality.
This has been a somewhat extraordinary series, so who knows what is about to happen; Australia would certainly appear to be on the rack, however. Hoggie took 3 wickets (after a lean spell so far in this series) and unless Hayden does something good in the second innings, Hoggie might be ending his career for him.
August 27th, 2005 at 7:21 am
So, Australia fail to reach the 277 required to avoid the follow-on and are, indeed, asked to follow on. I suspect that it wasn’t as easy a decision for Vaughn as one might have thought, given the inevitable deterioration in the wicket for the team batting last (to Warne’s advantage) and the fact that Bret Lee was clocking the ball all over the shop, including hitting one six into the carpark.
Test Match Special have an interview with Hugh Cornwell (founding member and former frontman of The Stranglers) at lunchtime which includes a live performance of Golden Brown on Mike Selvey’s guitar.
I think that Australia might make a fist of this. Batting seems to have become rather easier for them. Australia are 23-0 and seem to have settled in well following lunch.
August 28th, 2005 at 1:16 pm
Incredible.
England lose Simon Jones to a heel injury yesterday, while bowling to the Australians after they were made to follow on. Australia do well and get to 387 to leave a small target of 129 for England to chase. Things go great until Warne starts bowling and then the wheels come off. In the end, after a great deal of tension, Hoggie and Wheeliebin bring England through, for 7 wickets down. It looked like Australia were going to snatch an unlikely victory right up until the last few balls. Nearly stopped my heart.
So now, the series is 2-1 to England, with one test (at the Oval) left to go. Simon Jones may well miss the last test, and McGrath may well make it. If Australia can win it, they’ll draw the series and retain the Ashes. England need a win or a draw. Frankly, I’ll accept five days of rain and a washout draw, because this series is going to be the end of me if we get another tight game.
Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, is in some trouble having blown up after being run out by a sub fielder; the Australians have been unhappy with the England use of specialist sub fielders on for bowlers at the end of their spell. Ponting was run out by Pratt going for a dodgy run as called by Martyn, his crucial second innings of 48 ended prematurely, and exploded into a stream of obscenities, accusing the England team of cheating and then, finally, shouting at the England manager who’s out on the balcony applauding the runout, as he walks pack into the pavilion. He later apologises.
August 28th, 2005 at 1:39 pm
Riveting stuff! Of course, you know that it will be a draw in the end, right? This is England in international sport we’re talking about, remember. > sigh <
-cvj
September 12th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
5th Test, Oval
So, what to say?
Simon Jones wasn’t fit for the final match at the Oval, and Glenn McGrath (England’s destroyer in the first match at Lords) was. Things looking gloomy from the outset. England picked Collingwood for Jones, which wasn’t a like for like replacement, as Collingwood is an allrounder who bats better than he bowls, although he has increased his bowling speed to 80mph or so and he can be a useful stopgap.
England need to draw or win the match to win the series 2-1 or 3-1 and regain the Ashes. Australia need to win the match to tie the series 2-2 and retain the Ashes.
England win the toss and bat. Things are looking fine with a brisk start until the wheels start to come off and we lose quick wickets. Andrew Strauss demonstrates that he’s perfectly capable of dealing with Warne as he gets a crucial ton and Freddie produces another brutal innings (of 72) to give England a total of 373. Not enough on this pitch, but a lot better than it appeared we were going to get. Australia get into bat and Hayden, who couldn’t score in a brothel up until now, and Langer (who’s been reliable) both get tons and England look to be toasted by end of day 2. The wrinkle, however, is that when offered the light the two in-touch openers take it and don’t play again that day. Given that they have to win the match, and given that there is rain forecast for the third and fourth days (Saturday and Sunday), this seems a bit odd. Saturday is seriously restricted by rain, but Australia finish it with their only enemy, apparently, as time; they are 277-2 and look set to bat up a huge total and then try to bowl England out and win by an innings.
Sunday dawns, overcast and with threat of rain and bad light. England fans are praying for rain to make the series a draw, but, mirable dictu, the aussies collapse in the face of some agressive bowling from Freddie and great swing bowling from Hoggie and finish six runs behind England all out. Incredible stuff.
England lose a wicket on Sunday evening before they are offered the light and make a beeline for the pavilion. A fascinating Monday awaits; people who’d bought tickets for the last day of the last test back in November 2004 and paid 10 pounds for them have a chance that others are paying a thousand pounds to see. Disaster strikes fairly regularly with some great bowling from Warne and England are on 126 for 5 with the talisman Freddie gone when Kevin Pieterson, erstwhile saffer, who has faced some bruising chinmusic from Lee and been dropped on 0 and 15 (the second time a gimme grassed by Warne hisemlf), suddenly hits out and utterly brutalises the australian bowling. Joined by Wheeliebin, who got 32 in the first innings, he carts the aussies all over the ground and gets 158, 102 of which come in boundaries including 7 sixes. By the time he’s out, the match is beyond the aussies; Giles gets a nice 59, during which he got to swat McGrath around, before England are all out for 335. The aussies start a reply before coming off for bad light and the celebrations eventually begin. Unbelievable, but the Ashes have come back to England, despite predictions of a 5-0 whitewash by some of the aussies.
All over the world, Brits have been listening to this through the BBC website, and emails have been pouring in from some of the unlikeliest place. In the UK itself, it’s apparently been as big as anything since at least the World Cup of 1966 and even people who have never watched cricket before have become hooked (my stepfather, who despises sport, has even been watching it). Grown men are crying, apparently. For myself, of course, with stiff upper lip, a quiet beer this evening is the order of the day.
An amazing series, guts, determination, good sportsmanship despite fierce and physically agressive play, some great bowling by Shane Warne that wasn’t quite enough to save it for his team. I’ve been waiting all my adult life for this; I was still at school when England last held the Ashes and I’ve watched nearly every ball of every televised test match since long before then. This is, ridiculously, one of the best days of my life. After so long, so many disappointments and false dawns, we’ve done it. Maybe it’s not going to last long and the strength in depth isn’t there, but, man, it’s sweet at the moment. Cheers.
September 12th, 2005 at 4:54 pm
Who-Hoo! Thanks Adam!
-cvj