Did I hear someone say cricket?

I find myself stuck at home for the foreseeable future due to unfortunate circumstances. It's a long story, and once the whole mess is sorted out then I can reveal all. For now though, Ben is tired, scared and more or less sane. Oh, and the Ashes is upon us.

Sweet Jesus

I remember my First Challenge expedition to Malawi in the summer of 2009. There was a bar at one of our camp sites, and the men of the group decided to spend the day inside watching the cricket. Some say the day was wasted; I say there was no better way to spend a day. Even on the other side of the world, we found time to watch some cricket.

I did go outside at points

Sport is awash with rivalries. The list is long and all have their own reasons. Location, religion, a war or conflict thrown in there for good measure. When Farnham do battle with Camberley, there is no holding back, and a victory over those Camberley bastards always feels nice. It's been a while, but revenge will be ours soon. For now, there is one triumph that I am very happy with for the time being...

I didn't see it coming, not gonna lie

The rivalry between England and Australia is fierce, and for all the right reasons. It's the mother country versus one of the former white dominions. Australians desire to get one over the former world superpower is one that becomes an obsession, and English desire to hold on to any sort of prestige makes victory over those rowdy Aussies even sweeter.

Our two nations have done battle for many years now, and over all sorts of professions. Jonny Wilkinson (Farnham RUFC legend) sent the nation into a frenzy with that drop goal in 2003. Track cycling is always an intriguing affair when the two nations don their extra tight cycling suits and charge around in circles. Hell, even Nick Faldo and Greg Norman's golfing duel in the 1990s is worth mentioning as well.

Scenes

Yet it is cricket that unleashes the worst out of any player from either nation. For the sake of all you historians out there, here's a quick lesson. In 1882, the Aussies came over and beat us in a test match. The Sporting Times published an obituary, written by Reginald Stanley Brooks, to commemorate the occasion. English cricket had died and 'the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'.

In true fashion, England captain Ivo Bligh declared that he would 'regain the ashes' in their next tour to Austrlia. The term would become more widely used when England toured Australia in 1903, and has stuck ever since. Yet it was after the 1883  test series that an urn was presented to Bligh to symbolise the cremated remains of English cricket. The Ashes had begun.

The ultimate prize

The Darnley Urn (named as such due to Bligh being the Lord of Darnley) somehow unleashes the basic animalistic instincts of humanity, and bring about some outstanding sledges. I don't mean those sturdy vessels you glide down on a snowy mountain, but jibes at another player to get under their skin. Here are some of my favourites:

Mark Waugh (Australia): 'Look who it is. Mate, what are you doing here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England'
James Ormond (England) 'Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family'

Glenn McGrath (Australia): 'Athers, it would help if you got rid of the shit at the end of your bat'
Michael Atherton (England) looks at the bottom of his bat
McGrath: 'No, the other end'

Rodney Marsh (Australia): 'So how's your wife and my kids?'
Ian Botham (England): 'The wife's fine- the kids are retarded'

Nasser Hussain (England) at the crease. Steve Waugh tells Ricky Ponting (both Australia) to 'field at silly point. I want you right under his nose'.
Ian Healy (Australia): That could be anywhere inside a three-mile radius'

An icon of the sport

Simply incredible. With the eyes of the cricketing world upon you, and national expectations weighing you down, it takes a brilliant mind to think of something so witty in such a tense atmosphere. There's no room for cock ups, or else you will be eaten alive out there.

As this latest series unfolds, I am on the edge of my seat. Test cricket can be a drag at times, but when these two sides meet you can't turn your eyes away. The pride of nations is at stake, and only the bravest and strongest shall emerge victorious. Tears will be shed, blood will be spilled, runs will be scored! The Ashes is here, and it's gonna be sweet.

Ben G 😁 xo

P.S. I'm very grateful the Ashes has begun. I need to take my mind off my current predicament. All I have to do is to just wait for the whole thing to blow over.

Good stuff