Its what all cricket fans have been waiting for !
Cricket versus Australia in England - Yes, the "Ashes"
Already one test down, the second test starts today at Lords, the home of cricket. And if the first was a taster, then we are in for a treat as the two nations go head to head, playing their own individual style which makes the contest so fascinating.
If, like me, the rest of your household doesn't care too much for sport, then you need to find a way to watch undisturbed without causing friction or limiting access to the main TV.
The Ashes are being covered by Sky this season and good job too. I prefer their coverage compared to BT Sport. The only thing missing is the witty and intelligent comments from Bumble (David Lloyd) who has retired from regular work – shame !
So, in the knowledge that if you want to watch the cricket live you will need a Sky subscription and assuming this is in place, how can you watch ?
I have two options :
- Use the Sky Go app either on your mobile devices which works very well assuming your data download speed is reasonable. Be aware this does eat into your data allowance so always best to get access to a wifi network where possible.
- Sky Q mini box. I have set up a Sky minibox in my man cave to good affect. You will need access to the same network as your main Sky Q box is on. This may need some form of booster to get a usable wifi signal to your remote location.
It’s not too late to get your man cave installed for the remainder of the series. We have some great bargains on special offer cabins and for a quick delivery take a look at our in stock cabins.
Want to know more about the Ashes ?
The History of the Ashes
The history of ashes can be traced back to the sport of cricket, particularly the famous Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The term "ashes" refers to a specific cricket series known as "The Ashes," which has a long and storied history.
The Ashes series originated in 1882 following a Test match between England and Australia at The Oval in London. Australia won the match, which was their first-ever victory on English soil. A satirical obituary published in the English newspaper The Sporting Times proclaimed that English cricket had died and the body would be cremated, with the ashes taken to Australia.
In response to this tongue-in-cheek obituary, the captain of the English cricket team at the time, Ivo Bligh, made a pledge to "regain those ashes." When England toured Australia in 1882-1883, a small urn was presented to Bligh by a group of Melbourne women, which was believed to contain the ashes of English cricket. While the urn is considered the symbol of The Ashes, it has never been officially recognized as the trophy.
Since that historic series, England and Australia have competed in Test cricket matches against each other regularly, with the series played alternately in England and Australia. The Ashes has become one of the most iconic and fiercely contested rivalries in the history of cricket.
The series typically consists of five Test matches, and the team that wins the majority of the matches claims the Ashes urn. If the series ends in a draw, the team holding the Ashes from the previous series retains the urn. The urn itself is a small terracotta vase and is kept at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
Over the years, the Ashes series has produced many memorable moments and legendary players, such as Don Bradman, Ian Botham, Shane Warne, and Andrew Flintoff, to name just a few. It continues to captivate cricket fans around the world and remains one of the most prestigious contests in the sport.
It's important to note that while the term "ashes" specifically refers to the Test series between England and Australia, the word is also used more generally to describe the remains or residue left after something has been burned.
Results
Here is a summary of the historical Ashes results from the first series in 1882 up until my knowledge cutoff in September 2021:
Series Results:
1882 (England): The first Ashes series ended in a 1-0 victory for England, with England winning the one-off Test match played at The Oval.
1882-1883 (Australia): Australia won the three-match series 2-1, securing their first-ever Test series victory on English soil.
1884 (England): England won the two-match series 1-0.
1884-1885 (Australia): The series ended in a 3-2 victory for England in the five-match series.
1886 (England): England won the three-match series 3-0.
1886-1887 (Australia): Australia won the seven-match series 2-0.
1887-1888 (Australia): England won the three-match series 2-1.
1888 (England): England won the one-off Test match.
1890 (England): England won the one-off Test match.
1891-1892 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 2-1.
1893 (England): The one-off Test match ended in a draw.
1894-1895 (Australia): England won the five-match series 3-2.
1896 (England): The one-off Test match ended in a draw.
1897-1898 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 4-1.
1899 (England): Australia won the five-match series 1-0.
1901-1902 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 4-1.
1902 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1903-1904 (Australia): England won the five-match series 3-2.
1905 (England): England won the five-match series 2-0.
1907-1908 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 4-1.
1909 (England): England won the five-match series 2-1.
1911-1912 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 4-1.
1912 (England): The one-off Test match ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1920-1921 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 5-0.
1921 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1924-1925 (Australia): England won the five-match series 4-1.
1926 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1928-1929 (Australia): England won the five-match series 4-1.
1930 (England): England won the five-match series 2-1.
1932-1933 (Australia): England won the five-match series 4-1.
1934 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1936-1937 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 3-2.
1938 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1946-1947 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 3-0.
1948 (England): The five-match series, known as "The Invincibles," ended in a 4-0 victory for Australia.
1950-1951 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 4-1.
1953 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1954-1955 (Australia): England won the five-match series 3-1.
1956 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1958-1959 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 4-0.
1961 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1962-1963 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 1-0.
1964 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1965-1966 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 1-0.
1968 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1970-1971 (Australia): England won the seven-match series 2-0.
1972 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1974-1975 (Australia): Australia won the six-match series 4-1.
1975 (England): The three-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1977 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1978-1979 (Australia): Australia won the six-match series 3-0.
1981 (England): The six-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1982-1983 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 2-1.
1985 (England): The six-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1986-1987 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 1-0.
1989 (England): Australia won the six-match series 4-0.
1990-1991 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 3-0.
1993 (England): The six-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1994-1995 (Australia): Australia won the six-match series 3-1.
1997 (England): The six-match series ended in a draw, and Australia retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
1998-1999 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 3-1.
2001 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and Australia retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
2002-2003 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 4-1.
2005 (England): England won the five-match series 2-1, ending an 18-year Ashes drought.
2006-2007 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 5-0.
2009 (England): England won the five-match series 2-1.
2010-2011 (Australia): England won the five-match series 3-1.
2013 (England): England won the five-match series 3-0.
2013-2014 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 5-0.
2015 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and England retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
2017-2018 (Australia): Australia won the five-match series 4-0.
2019 (England): The five-match series ended in a draw, and Australia retained the Ashes as the previous holders.
Current Series Schedule
Author - Martin Corby
Posted - 28 Jun 2023
Disclaimer: This information is subject to change and as such, is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Readers are encouraged to verify the details independently.