Three Cheers For Richard Branson & Ian Botham!
Both Branson and Botham are going to campaign that The Ashes urn remain here in Australia. Seeing we've won them back after only fifteen months of being out of our hands, I believe this is what should occur. I have never understood why the Ashes had to be held in England when we have so obviously whopped the Poms over and over! Australia deserves to hold the Ashes' Urn here. It took the Poms sixteen years to regain the Ashes in 2005...and the Aussie team's persistence and determination to win them back this 2006/7 season has proven the urn should remain here in Australia.
Branson doesn't like losing...I think we've got a strong 'voice' here on our side! Good onya, Richard!
Hi Lee ~~ Good on Richard Branson for saying ashes should stay here, just saw him say it on Cricket Show, as I too am watching cricket. Didn't know Ian Botham was also in favour, but good. Glad McGrath got som good wickets, he and Gilchrist are my favourites.
ReplyDeleteLee I seriously envy you that beautiful rain. Nearly all Victoria got a little, and some got a lot, but Chepp got NONE. Still predicted, so hope dies eternal.
Enjoy the cricket, as I will, win, lose or draw. Love, Merle.
I'm having a thoroughly cosy, lazy day watching and enjoying the cricket, Merle. The rain has eased for the moment but the clouds are still fairly low and heavy so hopefully, more is coming.
ReplyDeleteI like both McGrath and Gilchrist, too...pretty fond of Symonds, also. He's a bit of a character.
You sure picked a good series to become a Test Cricket Fan Lee, seeing as you are Australian!!
ReplyDeleteSeems fair that the side that wins the "Ashes " series should hold them until the other side wins 'em back.
I have of course heard about the Ashes test match, but I have a question. Who's ashes are in that little bottle? Don't laugh, I'm American.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to laugh, Steve...I promise! ;)
ReplyDeleteTo quote Wikipedia:
"The series is named after a satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times in 1882 after the match at The Oval, in which Australia beat England in England for the first time. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English media dubbed the next English tour, to Australia (1882-83) as the quest to regain The Ashes.
A small terracotta urn was presented to the England captain Ivo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women at some point during the 1882-83 tour of Australia. The contents of the urn are reputed to be the ashes of an item of cricket equipment, possibly a bail, ball or stump. The urn is widely considered to be the trophy for the Ashes series. However, Ivo Bligh always considered it to be a personal gift.[3] Whichever side holds the Ashes, the urn normally remains in the Marylebone Cricket Club Museum at Lord's since being bequeathed to the MCC by Ivo Bligh's widow upon his death.[1] Since the 1998-99 Ashes series, a Waterford crystal representation of the urn has been presented to the winners as the official trophy of the series." End of quote.
I hope this answers your question, Steve and the not-so-grizzly tale of The Ashes. :)
Peter...I certainly did! My timing was spot on! :)
Having observed both Botham and Branson over the years, do not be deceived into thinking they are backing this position because of a sense of fair play to the Australians.
ReplyDeleteI think they both believe that seeing the urn *leave* England would provide additional motivation for their own lot to improve their performances.
Stop being so negative, Aurelius. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to be positive about the motives of people.
ReplyDeleteWhatever their reasoning, if it works and we get to keep the Ashes Urn here...great.
I guess the Poms have to dig deep into any barrel to provide additional motivation for their team to improve...I imagine we would do similar in the same position. It's all for the good of the game in the end, isn't it?