Ashes Test: Cardiff

The First Ashes test between England and Australia in the middle of this year was in Wales - at Sophia Gardens, in Cardiff.

The much anticipated tour after the last encounter in Australia, which saw the Aussies dominate, but then also the Aussies even performances against South Africa and then dismal showing against Pakistan in the UAE, and England's gaining as a top test nation again.

The English summer did not disappoint expectations, delivering a dull, cloudy and chilly couple of days. Light sent us to the pubs in Cardiff a little early on a few occasions. But the civilised start times in the morning allowed for a walk to the ground through town.

Past Cardiff castle each time, and through the gardens along the river, getting to the ground was a pleasure each time.

The English side won the toss and went in to bat on Day 1, following a bizarre play-delaying opening ceremony on-field. The Aussie bowlers get into the action pretty early, and quick wickets made for entertaining viewing to warm the Aussie section of the crowd a little.

The Poms finished on 7/343 at the end of the days play, which included Root's impressive 134, and we went on to find a few watering holes in the streets between the ground and our hotel.

The next day saw the handful of Sheilas in the traveling Waving The Flag group display our pink, adding some much needed variety to the grey, green and gold sea of our allocated section. And captured in a rare moment of sun!

England's Ali added a further 50 to his overnight total, to eventually fall at 77, and Starc then finished them off, grabbing a 5 wicket haul for the innings. England has 430.

The Aussies were soon in trouble, and the struggles of newly crowned best batsman Smith began with the English summer - they just seemed to have him worked out!

Rogers went on to score 95, creating anticipation and just missing out, and then the Aussies finished the day on 5/264.

Australia ticked past 300 in the morning of Day 3, but then were all out just 8 runs later. For the most interesting day of the test, the Aussies then took a few quick opening wickets, before England dug in until Root and Bell were both dismissed for 60 a piece.


England were all out for 289, setting Australia the unlikely target of 412 for victory, with talk of rain on the final day.

The Aussies were ticking along initially on Day 4, with Warner and Smith putting together a 78 run partnership. We celebrated Luke's birthday in the stand with cake and hats, and the Australia's were then 2/92 at lunch.

What followed was a session of capitulation, with England taking six wickets for 65 runs. The tea break saw the scoreboard says 7/162 - a blessing that we couldn't read it properly with the angle of our seats!

The great Mitchell Johnson was the only joy for the rest for the day, with 77 runs next to his name, but soon after Australia was all out for 242, 196 runs short of the target.

This led to us having an unexpected day off in Cardiff the following day - which I totally wasted with a hangover. Usual story on tour!

Australia v England - World Cup Cricket

With the 2015 ICC World Cup hosted in both Australia and New Zealand this Summer, we got the priviledge to get along to a few games, the first one being the dual opening match at the MCG between Australia and England.

Taking our seats in the outer, we soon started melting in the sun, and the sweltering Melbourne weather. A hot day, made even more so by an unusual humid air. We needed to move from row to row in the first innings to avoid it - and then were bemused by the use of fire bursts to add to the hot conditions with every boundary scored!

Australia took to the bat in the first innings, and Victorian opener Finch blasted away, scoring an exciting 135 before being run out, essentially setting up the match.

Good Aussie support from in-form Maxwell and Bailey had the home side poised at 9/342 for the innings change.

As the sun dipped behind the stands towards the city, we took our proper seats for the second innings, and watched in delight as March took 5 wickets, leaving a gallant Taylor on 98 without any more partners.

Australia had the win, and a great start for the World Cup.

There's Been Something Spiritual About This Test Series

This Test series here in Australia, against India, has been about so much more than just cricket.

I first read the devastating news of Phil Hughes' fatal injury when I was at work - one of my sister's actually sent me through a message just as I started reading about it, to check I was aware - and watched and waited like the rest of the worldwide cricket family with hope. I was glued to the feeds of news and updates for the 2 days. And then when the news came through of the 25 year old's death I needed to step away. I got back out to work, to do something meaningful. To remind myself of all that is really important in the world.

I watched our great captain Clarke work through his grief, lead his team, and support the Hughes family. I watched through a live stream, the funeral from country NSW, and teared up at the love and strength shown in Clarkie's eulogy. Never have I been so proud of a sporting figure.

Work had me out of contact and out of touch for the first day of the Adelaide Test, the first day of cricket since the abandoned match that took Hughes' life. I was flying home, on my way to Adelaide, to join MY cricket family.

It has been a little tough for me to feel the full weight of the emotion of it all, I think because of what I do, where I work, and what I hear about every day. But seeing the shrine of bats and flowers and messages out the front of Adelaide Oval, and in front of the photo of Phil Hughes brought it home for me.

The final stands of the RADelaide Test, with the impossible victory that Australia pulled off in the closing session...felt magical. Something spiritual was going on, something special. Whether we believe that Phil was looking down, or whether we just acknowledge that this playing group were playing more to honour their fallen mate than just for the mere game, it felt very different to any other win I have been present for. It was emotional. Meaningful.

I watched the rest of the series from home on a respite for the rescheduled Brisbane test, from grabs from the TV at work during the Melbourne test, and then again on a respite break just now for the Sydney test. Australia have taken the series 2-0, with 2 draws being the last results. Many significant cricket aspects went on this series - the Clarke injury, the newly crowned captaincy for Smith, the incredible form of Smith, Warner's grit, Johnson's unstoppable bowling, Dhoni's retirement, Kohli's form and captaincy...but there was a greater, more serious theme.

The collective draw of breath and fear that rippled through the ground, and screens, when the very first bouncer hit a batsman on the helmet. And each time someone reached 63. These were painful reminders of the tragic loss.

Images from the Summer like Smith's first hundred, in Adelaide, when he raised his bat to the sky, standing by the 408 painted on the ground. The whole team managing to gather together in winning jubilation, again, just above that 408 on the ground at the Adelaide Oval. Warner's hundred in Sydney, when he went to ground and kissed the pitch where Hughes had fallen. These will be lasting memories from this emotional Summer. Far greater than the series score.

Vale Phillip Hughes. Forever Young.

Pakistan Plays Australia In Dubai

A tour for Australia to play Pakistan in the UAE sounded like the perfect excuse to catch some cricket, and visit my first Arab land in my travels, in the absence of tours getting to travel to Pakistan in the current, ongoing political climate. I managed to get along to just the first 2 days of the test, around my other commitments around the world!

The Waving The Flag group caught a mini-bus from our hotel to the ground. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium - or Sports City as it had emblazoned on all signs, was by the highway loops in the desert inland from the Dubai Marina. An unusual view coming into the cricket group - sand and desolate space. Despite the free entry to the ground for all patrons, our small group was half of the attendance for both days, sadly.

The Aussies lost the toss, and were send out into the field in the blazing heat - with a cracking start! A wicket each from pacemen regulars Johnson and Siddle in the first 4 overs gave our Aussie flag wavers something to jump out of our seats and make some noise about.

But that's really where Australia left it, with the Pakistani batsmen having their way with our 2 debutante bowlers, piling on the runs. The first day ended with the score at 4/219.

Day 2 was much of the same - hot and many runs from Pakistan. The most interesting part of the days play was seeing the blood spill from Zulfiqar Babar, after receiving a sharp ball to the glove. He retired hurt as a result, and then shortly after at Tea, the "home side" finished their First Innings at 454.

The Australian openers got a start before losing their first wicket, and the end of the day's play had Warner set for a Ton on tour the next day.

I was flying home for Days 3, and probably Day 4 too, and upon hearing the scores, wasn't too sad about that! Pakistan finished the game on Day 5, defeating Australia by 221 runs. The next test begins in Abu Dhabi this week...the Aussies hoping for a better show!

Victory At Newlands - Third Test

The most beautiful sports ground in the world, with Table Mountain as the backdrop, gave us a full test match for the third and final for the Australian tour of South Africa - with an Aussie win, right to the wire.

We arrived at Newlands with the series even after the first two tests, and found that our Waving The Flag crew had the best seats in the house - in a little triangular patch of grass on the bottom tier of the stand. Perfect.

The Aussies won the toss, and set out on a cracking batting pace, to set a target in the first innings. This ran across into Day 2, our traditional Chick Pink Day, where many of us managed a photo in the middle of the pitch, with the SA Lion.

(This photo, and the last one, are from Colin's collection)

Rain, would you believe, ended Day 2, allowing for many Third Session drinks in the nearest pub - where we met Saffas dressed as Smurfs. Almost as weird as wearing pink to the cricket!

South Africa got to have a bat on Day 3, but did not last the day, with Johnson and Harris having great days at work, 4 and 3 wickets respectively.

Setting the South Africans a target of 511, the Aussies declared in their second innings, and set up the remainder of the test as a race the the win/draw.

The task of just 10 good balls to win always sounds easy, but this last day delivered on drama and tension, before the Australians claimed those last wickets to win the series.

A month in South Africa, with three cricket matches, and so much to see, our tour was topped by a visit out to the pitch after the crowds had left. Our group in the centre of Newlands, soaking it in. It was pretty amazing!

Series Leveller At St George's Park

The end of our roadtrip along the Garden Route had us arrive in Port Elizabeth the evening before the start of the Second Test between South Africa and Australia, which was our intention. Chilling out with an ocean view at our hotel, we caught back up with the travelling Waving The Flag crew, and prepared for days of cricket again.

Taking our place in the stands of St George's Park the next morning, the Saffas won the toss and went in to bat - and proceeded to pile on the runs until bad light brought us mercy at the end of the day!

The home side carried on in the same vein the next day, until we finally got them all out after Tea, for 423.  Our horror then continued, as 4 Aussie wickets fell in the final session.

A very different game to the one we had been witness to in Pretoria!

Our evening activities were the highlight of the PE Test, with the first night finding us a crazy group karaoke night at Captains. The next night found us at the impressive Bridge Street Brewery, for tunes and amazing food. A bunch of us decided to explore the hyped dining experience of Stanley Street on a Saturday night, and constructed an amazing progressive dinner along the strip of restaurants open.

The Australians managed just 246 for the first innings, finishing at Lunch on Day 3.

As the band played for most of the final day in the stand adjacent to us, the Aussies were firmly beaten by 231 runs on Day 4. A couple of us actually ducked down the hill at Lunch for a bit of a Sunday session, which was very difficult to leave and watch the end of the match live!

Final drinks were had overlooking the empty ground from the Members Stand, as we all contemplated the status of a very alive test series.

Centurion Test At SuperSports Park

I used a cricket tour as the backbone of my recent trip to South Africa, with the First Test of a 3 test series happening in Pretoria, or Centurion to be precise. A new test venue to me, and as it turned out, a happy hunting ground for the Aussies.

We, being the Waving The Flag group, stayed within walking distance to the ground, and managed to secure a great spot each day in the grandstand for the match.

The build up to this series, with South Africa being a power in cricket in recent times, and the Ashes win for the Aussies, was exciting. A chance to see how the battle between two very good, top-of-the-world sides at the moment would pan out.

The first session of Day 1 brought back horror memories of the Aussies in India, with the top order failing again, before Marsh and Smith joined forces out in the middle for a formidable and impressive partnership. They were in overnight, and both went on to get centuries, Marsh a solid 148. The Australians ended up with a happy 397 first innings total into the middle session of Day 2.

And then it was Mitchell Johnson's day! Cleaning up many of the threatening Saffa batsmen, rain ended the day's play with South Africa on 6/140. Mitch had 4! Wow! His Aussie Summer form continued to terrorise!

Day 2 also saw the girls on tour in pink, and being a Lunch break tradition at South African venues, we get to wander out onto the ground and have our traditional Chick Pink photo taken in front of the scoreboard.

I missed Day 4 for my next adventure, and of course several people later on said it was one of the best days of cricket they have ever been to - of course! Needless to say, the Mitchell Johnson show rolled on, and the Aussie's won by a whopping 281 runs. Great start to the series!

The Thrashers Completed At The Pink Test

If someone had told me that the Aussies would win all 5 matches in this Summer's Ashes series at home, after India last year and the average performances in England during our Winter, I would have laughed and laughed. Whilst we can all dream, never had I imagined the team turnaround that happened across the Australian Summer. Cricket is such a funny game - you just never know!

After missing the Boxing Day Test for the first time in years and years, for work, and having great seats, B managed to organise tickets for me for the final Sydney Test, and I got up there in time to celebrate her birthday and her 100th Test Match, on the night of Day 1.

The Aussies were poised to win the series 5-0 with this final test, after a seriously amazing performance in Brisbane and Adelaide, and also in Perth and Melbourne. We had dubbed the whitewash Ashes series in Australia in 2006 The Smashes, so this one, so very one sided, has to be The Thrashers!

Day 2 commenced for me with meeting up with Spreads, Graham and Tom The Pom in the stand, and watching 5 English wickets fall by Lunch! Needless to say, the English lads were not having as much fun as we were!

England was all out by Tea, for 155, against the Aussie first innings total of 326 the day before. Australia returned for another batting innings for the final session, losing 4 wickets, and adding 140 to the run total.

The sea of pink on almost every person walking in the gates, and all across the ground was so impressive and inspiring on Day 3. For Jane McGrath Day, and to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer and the McGrath Foundation's Breast Care Nurses across Australia, people wear pink, the stumps are pink, and every sign possible across the SCG is pink too. Amazing!

The Aussies kept in, until the middle of the middle session, being all out for 276, setting an impossible target. Incredibly, as this series went, Harris collected 5 wickets to assist a quick end to England's innings, match, and series.

Australian cricket was on a massive high, with unbelievable performances by our bowlers. The Ashes is such a massive sporting win, and one requiring much celebrating!

RADelaide Test Match And Missing Boxing Day

I do not get homesick very often, but today I felt a pang each time I checked the cricket score. This has been the first time I have missed a Boxing Day test match in Melbourne for many, many years. Seeing photos posted on Facebook from the MCG, particularly from seats where I would have been had this work opportunity not come up, was tough.

I did get two Tests in this Summer, and today as the first discussion about the gathering in Melbourne today, I booked a flight to go to the Sydney one when I am back from this work rotation. Oops! Ha!

So I managed to get to RADelaide for the traditional week of cricket mayhem, and had a wonderful time catching up with many of my very favourite people in the world.

We also got to see the partially completed new Adelaide Oval, although frankly the sight of the modern dome at one end, and the disappearance of the much loved sails, made all of our hearts sink a little. It was our favourite ground around Australia. Now, it's quite different. Modernised for the AFL coming next year.

Nonetheless, the Ashes was at fever pitch after the Gabba win, and the buzz around the ground for the start of play on Day 1 was electric.

The days play ended up pretty even, and off we all went into North Adelaide for many drinks, and catch ups with everyone in town.

Sheila HQ was amazing this year, as we rented a house, and our Blender Party was a hit again. The next night saw the Chardy Party enjoy balcony views of the new sections of the new stand.

The cricket was good, too! Mitchell Johnson with the Mo is magic!

At the end of the day's play on Sunday, with 5 wickets to go to get the win, the flight I had booked for that night disappeared from my plans. I couldn't leave without seeing the win! Another great night, a breakfast in North Adelaide and then seeing the Aussies go 2-0 up in the series made it all worth it!

Aussies Up 1-0 - The Home Ashes Series

I have just made it to the airport after four days of cricket, and managing to see the last wicket of our first Aussie win in what feels like forever - and more importantly, a convincing first Test win in this home Ashes series.

The 'Gabba test is the first for the Summer, and what a cracking, and frankly unexpected start!

I flew up on Wednesday afternoon, and B and Jess arrived over the evening, ready for Day 1 the next day. We booked an Air BnB apartment, which was easy, and worked well for us.

Meeting Ben and Simon for a breakfast drink, before making our way to our seats, the atmosphere was electric, as it should be at the beginning of an Ashes series.

The Aussies batting first, there were many stumbles at the crease, and some worries returned from the series mid year. Some steadying from Haddin and Johnson had the day ending on a good enough note. The score was 8 for 273.

Jess and Andrew joined us for Day 2, ticking off the Test venue for them, as we showed them the full experience. Across the road for beers at the German Club at Lunch - and then amazingly a cracking day of Aussie bowling. At one point the passage of play had resulted in England offering 6 for 9! Unbelievable!

England all our for 136, and then the Aussie openers had a happy little run making session, with Warner closing the day on 49.

Today and yesterday started with a walk across the Story Bridge, taking in the city sight, before getting to the 'Gabba.

Yesterday gave us Aussie run joy, with a century from Warner, then Clarkie, and a half ton from Haddin. A whopping 560 runs ahead of England, for the last innings.

This morning we arrived at the ground knowing we just needed 8 good balls. And the rain to hold off. We got the wickets, just in time for me, despite two rain delays, one storm with thunder and lightening, hail and sideways rain. And an Ashes win!

What an exciting feeling. The team seemed more together than they have been for some time, and the Summer is looking very good!

Many of the Waving The Flag family had traveled up or across, or even internationally, for the match, and these last 4 days have been amazing, hanging out with some of my very favourite people.

A win in Brisbane is always a great way to start, and we are looking forward to the next  in less than 2 weeks.

Farewell To The Little Master

Sachin Tendulkar padded up for what may be his final batting innings tonight (Aussie time). His 200th test match, which began today against the West Indies, held in Mumbai, has been announced as his last.

What an amazing career, story, and legend of the game.

Being at each of the grounds of the Aussie tour to see him play on home soil earlier this year was incredible. The noise, and electric atmosphere of the screaming, adoring fans. The palpable waves of emotions waiting for his turn out in the middle.

The fans, kids and grown men alike, would squeal every time he was near the ball, stand all session up against the high fence in the beating sun when he was on the boundary, and roar with delight when the up-and-coming batsmen in the batting order before him would lose their wicket.

I had considered "working from home" today, to watch it all unfold, although missed the chance with appointments being made. But checking the status at the start of the day's play made that move justified as India won the toss and elected to field, delaying the big moment.

Getting home from a crazy and full day, and being blessed with my current housesitting gig and it's full Foxtel package, I was sitting in front of the big screen with live images as India commenced their batting innings, and then the over that saw 2 wickets fall to bring The Little Master to the crease.

Finishing the day's play on 38*, with pretty impressive run making, and sets up a massive day of absenteeism in India tomorrow! The fairytale would be a great final innings. Can't wait to watch it unfold!

Cricket At Feroz Shah Kotla

Heading to the fourth and final test of our tour around India earlier this year, we could have been forgiven for wishing for the mercy rule. This was not a good tour for the Aussies, and for the Waving The Flag crew, the toll of traveling around India for as long as we had began to be felt. Irritations at our hotel as we checked in had not set the tone right, and the treatment of security at the cricket did nothing to dissipate any of that.

The match was played at Dehli's Feroz Shah Kotla, and the Aussie's lasted just three days before India claimed victory and a clean sweep of the series.

Day 1 had the Aussies batting, and whilst very slow run-making, we seemed to be showing signs of possibility. Ahhh, who am I kidding! Ending the day with a total of 231 with 8 wickets down, all our hopes were pinned on fast bowler Peter Siddle overnight.

We donned our Indian style Chick Pink for Day 2, and watched as the Aussies were bowled out, and then India made our 1st Innings total and then some by the close of the days play. One of the highlights of the day was watching the Little Master bat, and whilst making just 32 (and 1 in the 2nd innings), seeing Tendulkar play in front of his home crowd at our last opportunity was one of those priceless things on tour.

The distinctive stance, the grit and manner, and the fans adoration, was like nothing else. Rumours were all around during the test of when he would announce his retirement, and when it came last week, that he would play his last matches next month in India, it was no surprise. I feel so, so honoured to have seen him play at home in India, in front of his screaming fans! Such an experience.

The crowd did not really impress for this last test of the series, and Day 3 saw the match all wrapped up.

India made swift work of the Aussie's 2nd Innings, in and then all out halfway through the middle session. India set to the task for their 2nd Innings, they had the match won by 6 wickets by the end of the day.

A pretty sad and sorry tour for the Aussies, but nonetheless, the backbone of my 5 weeks of travelling around India. I met so many great people, who joined and became part of the Flag family on tour, and of course, got to tour with some of my favourite people from past tours.

Cricket In Mohali - 3rd Test In India

So, while we were wandering around Agra seeing the sights like the Taj Mahal, the Australian Cricket Team were meant to submit some homework - reportedly a review about how each of them thought the team could improve. Four of them didn't complete it, and in a stunning move, were suspended from playing in the next test, including a couple who we expected to be a chance to be called up, and also the Vice Captain.

"Homework-gate" gave significant weight to the talk on tour about the issues of culture within the Aussie Team. The apparent divide between the playing group, the personalities, and suspected feuds. The shock of the suspension though, was big. How ridiculous! Especially how badly the team was going with a full squad to pick from!

After all the controversy of the build up, we woke on the morning to Day 1....to rain! Which did not go away for the whole day. A forced travel rest day in the end, as we all waited back at the hotel for any positive news about a possible start of play. But eventually it was called off for the day, with no play at all. A very much needed day of rest, a total bonus, after all the travel so far. It meant we got to explore the Section 17 area of Chandigarh, the shops and the buzz of people and life!

Day 2 we got the chance to head across town to the suburb of Mohali, to the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. Convincing auto rickshaws to go that far was a bit of work, and we certainly didn't know if they were going the wrong or the long way, but we all managed to make it there in the end!

The Aussie's won the toss, and set out to make a good day of batting. Luke presenting the Flaggy Greens to the new Waving The Flag tour members, and we took our seats for some cricket.

Runs from Cowan, Warner and Smith had us a little happier at the end of the days play, finding a pub across the road from our hotel with very cheap beer! (No girl's loo though...ahhh, you can't have it all!)

We chose Day 3 to be our Chick Pink Day, and upped the ante with our India-styled tunics bought from a women's stored in Section 17. Getting them was quite the experience for us, and getting treated a little more favourably by the security staff on the gate when we were dressed like this, made it all the more fun.

Our attire for the day also started many conversations with the locals. I could not resist getting a photo with this gent on our pink day, given his gorgeous turban! He enjoyed the chat, and had been to Melbourne before, so we had much chatter to fill a few overs of time with!

The Aussies batted on till just before Lunch, posting 408. Then the Indians were in, and we watched debutante Dhawan pile on the runs to finish the day on an impressive 185!

St Patrick's Day fell on Day 4, and also Trish's birthday, which promised to be a fun day. After downloading a picture of a shamrock onto my photo in the morning, I commissioned one of the lads always eager to paint our faces with India flags to try his best. A green shamrock on my cheek, to be sure!

Luck, and tons of skill, was with the Indians again on this day on the field, and the runs kept coming. They finally succumbed to our bowling efforts well into the last session, making 499. Effective dashing all hope for the match for the Aussies.

We found a bar with a kangaroo as the logo that night, and had many beers, toasting the birthday Sheila.

The last day was a forgettable one for the Australians, losing our remaining 7 wickets, and then we watched as the Indian batsman made the winning 136 runs - a win by 6 wickets.

The most entertaining part of our time in the stands was to watch the Number 1 Indian Fan, and his little copiers/followers. All painted, loud and mouthy, these three kids kept us pretty distracted from the carnage that was going on out in the middle.

Project 52: Wednesday Evening

This particular Wednesday night was the night all Aussie cricket fans had been counting down to for weeks - the start of the Ashes series over in England. Regardless of the worry about the team and how we might actually go, there was excitement for the start of the First Test - butterflies-in-the-stomach type excitement!

I was housesitting a pretty amazing house, and had Graham join me for pizza and mulled wine for the first session. Perfect! Watching play get started from the other side of the world, this night was the beginning of seven weeks of serious sleep deprivation!

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

Cricket On The Shores Of The Taj – A Waving The Flag Tradition

One of the things I have always wanted to do was join Waving The Flag in their cricket match on the shores of the river that runs along behind the Taj Mahal - the photos from this excursion are always a sensation, and a real highlight of most trips to India to watch cricket.

We almost didn't get to do it, with the beach in front of Mehtab Bagh actually wire-fenced off, and security officers with guns patrolling the entry to the area. We needed to compromise and set up our game just next to the fence, ensuring we still had that magical view.

Our little Agra travelling group improvised our game to get the desired feel, and view - all taking it in turns to bowl and bat, with one brave Bloke usually being the one to volunteer to dare to venture out into the fenced off area, when a ball went astray.

An unforgettable travel moment, an amazing afternoon playing cricket with the Taj!

Photo credit: Luke, Waving The Flag

The Birthplace Of The Ashes

I did a double take when I drove past this sign a couple of weeks ago, when out and about for work. The country town of Sunbury - or outer Melbourne suburb to some - claims that it is the birthplace of the Ashes. How did I not know this before?

I stopped to do some online research, to find out about the story, and the link between Sunbury and the greatest cricket rivalry there is – which started again for another round just last night!

Sunbury is where the beautiful Rupertswood Mansion is, and this lays claim to the place where the "Ashes" were first handed over to England Captain Ivo Bligh in the Summer tour of Australia in 1882-83, in an urn.

This of course follows on from the famed death notice for English Cricket appearing in The Sporting Times following the Australian win in England (of just one test) in 1882. The notice claimed that English Cricket had died as a result of the low scoring defeat at The Oval – which was actually the ninth ever Test between the two nations – and was ‘deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances’. The notice also advised that the body would be cremated and that the ashes would be taken to Australia.

Before the very next tour of Australia by England in the Summer of 1882-83, Bligh had gallantly claimed that he would bring home the ashes, and his English team were a source of great sporting hope for England! The record outlines that there were four Tests played over this Summer, and a host of tour matches, but after three it was claimed that England had indeed won The Ashes back.

Sir William Clarke, owner of Rupertswood, and the President of the Melbourne Cricket Club at the time, hosted the English cricketers over Christmas of this tour, and it was here that The Ashes was presented. Sir Clarke’s wife Lady Janet, and English Captain Bligh’s future wife at the time, Florence Morphy, presented what is thought to be an old perfume bottle to Bligh, as a bit of a joke the story reads, after a match between the English team and the staff and guests of the grand house, on the grounds of Rupertswood.

This famed little urn has physically returned to Australia twice since Bligh took it back to England at the end of this tour, and where it was finally presented to the Maryleborne Cricket Club by Florence upon his death - one of these times for a full lap just as many of us did in 2006, for The Smashes!

I drove on from the Birthplace sign on the way in to Sunbury to check out Rupertswood, which is a beautifully restored building, now on the grounds of a private school, used as a hotel and a host for functions. I parked in the school carpark, and went for a wander to the front of the building, and for a peek inside. Such a big part of the history of the sporting battle between England and Australia.

Now, onward with the new battle for Australia to win them back, again, after that unspeakable Boxing Day Test in 2011. Go Aussies!