The Ashes form an important part of Australian history. No other sporting event regularly captures the Australian spirit like the battle against England for that little Urn. The Urn contains the ashes of some bails that were burnt at the end of a test match between the two countries and it became the symbolic and much coveted prize. The MCC museum at Lords in London has possession of the Urn, but in reality they remain the property of the game.

Highlights of the Ashes

There have been some incredible events that have highlighted the Ashes (held every two years) and its importance to Australian folk law. The ‘Bodyline’ series in the early 1930s changed the face of the game when the English, led by Douglas Jardine, targeted the body of the Australian batsmen rather than the wickets. The tear away coal mining speedster, Harold Larwood was key in this iconic and controversial series. The 1948 ‘Invincibles’ lead by the legendary Don Bradman, considered by many as the greatest cricket team ever to play the game, traveled to England and won every game they played.

In more recent times the 2005 series in England saw possibly the biggest upset in the history of the Ashes when the English wrestled away the Urn against all the odds after 20 years in the wilderness. In 2007 the English returned to Australia where they were belted in a 5-0 shellacking at the hands of a hungry Australian team desperate to erase some of the shame associated with the loss two years before. That series saw the retirement of 888 Poker’s own star Shane Warne who took his 700th test wicket in front of 80,000 of his screaming fans in his hometown Melbourne.

The 2009 Ashes Favorite

Cricket is Australia’s truly national sport and is loved from one end of the country to the other. Who knows who will win the Ashes this year in England but one thing is certain, you will be able to get a good price at 888 Sport. The Aussies will be favorites but the English are given a good chance and with the retirement of stars like Shane Warne, Australia may find the task harder than they have in the past.