The Ashes

[Gonzo]

Er...ok, I'm a cricket noob, but someone said at work today that we had won a game against Aus.

Looking on here, people's comments confirm that we did, all well and good.

Then I get confused when someone says :

and someone else mentioned something about a "series"

So, does that mean we only won a game on a specifc day, or are there more games that are part of this current round of games, or something.

I guess what I mean is, have we just won the Final, in football terms, or are we somewhere along the Semi Finals ?

In D&D terms, which I understand more, have the party just whooped the ass of the BBEG, or are they still working their way though a penultimate lieutenant and his minions before the end of level boss ?

I can't help you with the D&D analogies, but in a nutshell there are three forms of the game of cricket that are currently played - test matches are played over five days (typically 90 overs per day is the intended amount of cricket to be played but this is sometimes not achieved). This is the form of the game we are dealing with here.

A team will tour a host country and play in a series of these test matches.

The series against Australia is five test matches.

The first ended in a draw, England have just won the second.

There are three more to play so either team could still win the series.

The series against Australia is these days called "the Ashes". The name started with a satirical obituary for English cricket that was published in an English newspaper after Australia beat England in England for the first time in 1882. At that time cremation was not a legal way to dispose of dead bodies in England but people worried about the amount of room cemetaries were taking up were calling for it.

I understand that the little trophy that we see to day was presented to the England cricket captain at the time as a joke, and supposedly contain those "ashes of the dead body of English cricket".

So essentially, referring to the series as "the ashes" is the extension of a 127 year old joke. It is surprising the things that can make you proud to be English.

[Board Game Geek]

Thanks Gonz, I understand now.

[Moscow Mule]

Yes, let's send our Aussie guests to visit a few pig farms while they're in England.

Well, they are playing in Northampton this weekend.


*ducks*

[minestrone]

Not so much chat today chaps, Aus look like they will be on a 600+ score on this wicket although looks like the rain will save England though.

[oracleslave]

Not so much chat today chaps, Aus look like they will be on a 600+ score on this wicket although looks like the rain will save England though.

125 odd is a long long way from 600 so might be a bit early for that prediction, Having said that the wicket does look really easy though, so not sure there will be a result as Aus don't have that magician (warne) that can do something special on any surface.

[minestrone]

125 odd is a long long way from 600 so might be a bit early for that prediction, Having said that the wicket does look really easy though, so not sure there will be a result as Aus don't have that magician (warne) that can do something special on any surface.

I don't think we will ever see a Warne again for a few decades but Hauritz looks the business relative to normal test spin bowling averages. Despite the bloke getting slated he got 3 for 80 at Lords during a crap spell. Hopefully Mr Boss man that sits behind me buggers off for the day and I can watch the match at my desk tomorrow.

[oracleslave]

Hopefully Mr Boss

That's me! Hence "working from home" tomorrow

[Zippy]

That's me! Hence "working from home" tomorrow

shirking

[Alf W]

Good start. Watson LBW Onions first ball of the day!

[Alf W]

Even better. Hussey bowled Onions second ball of the day!