The myriad WAR: The Ashes!

The British are known for preserving their culture. They have the history of dominance, the history of reigning the world, the history of being the best. One more history they posses, and that is, the game of Cricket. This history has one important chapter, very important; The Ashes. The Ashes is itself a sub-history of cricket battles between two top rivalries, England and Australia. Every cricket lover knows the fundamental of the Ashes. These two teams consider regaining and retaining the ashes as the prestigious battle. The teams disperse and excel, players’ career gets deteriorated or sets on track by the results of this battle.

This ashes journey has provided many players, records, new tactics, and strategies to tackle with the best players of opposition. The thread for England starts from Jack Hobbs, Dennis Compton, Douglas Jordan, Larwood, Fred Trueman, Bob Willlis and extends to Botham, Gooch, Gatting, Atherton, Caddick, Freddie, Vaughn, Cook. Australia’s list starts from Sir Don Bradman, Miller, Richie Benaud, Lillie, Thomson, Border, to the legendary players like Steve Waugh, Ponting, Macgrath, Warne, Hayden, Brett Lee. Such is the importance of this chapter; some of the series have been named after the highlight or notable performance of players. e.g. The Body-Line Series, The Botham Series, The 2005 Series.

History tells that Australia has been the dominant side to control the ashes. But in the recent past, England, with its classical cricket, has outplayed Australia on its home turf as well as their backyard. In the last series, 2011-Australia, we all have seen the gutsy performance of England and frustrated, desperate attempt by Australia. The Victorians were, of course, the England side. This time too, the odds are favoring England. England batting has been performing with solidity, with the Cooks, the Bells, the Trotts, being the genuine test match players, have the capacity to play inexorably with consistency.

The new lad Joe Root has also shown his class during the series, in India. Under the crisis situation, Matt Prior is the man who has saved England more often than not. Under the typical English swinging condition, Anderson, Finn, Stuart Broad could prove lethal. The spell from Anderson in the Melbourne match back in 2011, in Australia, was exemplary, where he showed how to use new ball to get batsmen out with swing and seam movement.

Australia’s current “grahadasha” is only worsening its prospect to think about regaining the Ashes. Considering the recent performances, Australia’s batting looks feeble. It is nowhere near the mighty line-up that used to control the game all the time. Clarke, Watson, Cowen, Warner have to buckle down with the intent to match with the class of the Englishmen. If any chance Australia could create, that would be from their bowling unit. Siddle, Johnson, Pattinson, Starch, the big hearted performance from this foursome can give Australia a glimmer of hope. Nevertheless, it’s a real pleasure to watch the war of test match between two classical and “ancient” sides. The battles would be won by one team or the other, but the fire would be long lasting, the ashes would be ever burning, the war would be myriad!!

Ritesh R Kadam
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