The Ashes

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

CRICKET: The Ashes are ours: So hand them over

By JON PIERIK

02dec02

HAND it over. . . now.

The time has come for the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord's to hand over cricket's most famous prize - the tiny little urn known as the Ashes - to Steve Waugh and his world champion Australians.

It's ridiculous that the original urn - which after all was created in Australia in 1882-83 - remains housed in England when the Old Dart hasn't won a series against us in 14 years.

The Australians deserve more than a replica urn which the MCC gave to Don Bradman and his Invincibles in 1948 and have handed over ever since to the Baggy Green men whenever they have won the battle.

Put simply, who wants a cheap bottle of wine when French champagne is available?

The Australians want the original burnt bail - and deserve it fair and square.

Claims that the urn is too fragile and could be broken in the long flight over have been debunked by artefact experts.

Anyway, it's not as if it's going to be passed around by yobbos at the SCG.

Where else in the world is a winning team denied the right of parading their well-earned prize?

Even the US handed over the America's Cup in 1983 when Australia became the first foreign invader to win sailing's grandest prize.

The MCC doesn't need to look any further for guidance than the International Cricket Council which allows the World Cup trophy to reside in the country that wins this major tournament.

The Ashes have been moved three times - for exhibitions in London in the 1930s and 1990s - and to Australia in 1988 as part our bicentennial celebrations.

It's time to send them Down Under again.

Is this true? Does England still have the original ashes despite such a long losing streak?

This year will be the fifteenth year you will have lost to us:D

Ducks for cover back to the Australain forum:lol2:

[Good_Queen_Bess]

Yes, ok, the aussies ARE the best team in the world. Even though we invented the game (it's a silly game anyway). You can HAVE the ashes, although I'll have to dig them out the loft for you, I forgotten where I put them. Actually, I don't even know (nor care come to think) whether we have them or not!

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[Whisper]

I think, it is a cover up and that something untoward has happened to the ashes!

Kind of like breaking a mirror it is this damage that has caused Englands loosing streak!

[Good_Queen_Bess]

Originally posted by Whisper

I think, it is a cover up and that something untoward has happened to the ashes!

Knowing the English, we've probably scattered them somewhere.

WTF are "the ashes" anyway? Sorry to be a moron (but NOT a sad moron), are they quite literally ashes, like the stuff your gran has on her mantlepiece? I know it's the cricket competition and you win them, but is it a trophy?

PS: the short explanation please. no cricket bllx. :zzzzz

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

The way I heard it the English came over to Australia in 1882 "to teach the colonials how to play cricket" and were not just beaten but trounced. (history repeating). They then went back to England and burnt the bales ( the little thingys on top of the wickets) and presented them in a cup as the "Ashes of English cricketing honor" or some such.

I could have gotten the story wrong and I am sure that if I have someone will correct me.

[karenG]

the scots have the ashes!!!!!!!!!!!! well- the English stole our stone so only fair!

Karen

[Good_Queen_Bess]

Thank you Gwen and Karen, I thought it was something to do with the stumps being burnt. Still, it'd been more interesting if the English HAD scattered them somewhere! LOL

[Whisper]

Karen did you see the highlander episode where they stole the stone of Scone and gave the English the fake?

I realise not every ones is a sci-fi nut like me, but there explination of the theft and return of the stone in the 1940's is much more intersting than the 'truth'

Whisper

[karenG]

hi whisper

no I missed that episode.... and I am a sci-fi nut! heaven to me is to be let loose in the forbidden planet bookshop- supposed to be the biggest sci-fi bookshop in the world! Bliss..

Karen

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

originally posted by kareng

hi whisper

no i missed that episode.... and i am a sci-fi nut! heaven to me is to be let loose in the forbidden planet bookshop- supposed to be the biggest sci-fi bookshop in the world! bliss..

karen

sigh!! heaven!!!

i didn't see the episode but did see billy connoly's world tour of scotland where he insinuated that the wrong stone had been given back to the english and the real stone was still in scotland!!!

[Whisper]

Forbidden planet, wow now that is a reason to move down south.