To this day, the most traditional and the fiercest rivalry in test cricket is between Australia and England, they compete bi-annually for crickets ultimate trophy. The Ashes. Although neither team ever takes physical possession of the original trophy, a copy is presented to the victorious captain. The original trophy was a silver urn, but inside the urn the billeted family of the English captain (Mr Bligh) touring Australia at the time burnt a bail and placed it inside the urn. It was a gesture that cricket in England was dead, it was believed cricket was over because no one thought England could possibly loose to Australia. The ashes were presented to the English cricket authorities than immediately presented to the members of Lord's, who returned it back to the possession of Bligh where it remained until Bligh's death in 1927. It is now in permanent display in a cabinet at Lord's. .
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The only time it has left its display cabinet was in 1988, when they were flown to Australia as apart of the bicentennial celebrations. But the Ashes is so treasured that it was always under full security, so much though it was flown to Australia by RAAF VIP aircraft and escorted to and from Lord's by police escort. .
Nowadays the Ashes are totally dominated by the Australian's with the Aussies winning the last seven test series, and winning quite comfortably. With this recent domination some Australian's are pushing for the original trophy to be kept in the country of the victorious team. But such as the tradition some cricketing experts believe the ashes will never be removed from its home in Lord's.
Maybe besides the AFL Grand Final the biggest sporting draw card is the Melbourne Boxing Day Test. With the MCG full of cricketing fanatics it is evident that the Ashes tradition and history will live on. The Ashes series is not only good to watch it sets an example for what cricket is all about. A cricket game played with an attitude anything less than what is played during an Ashes series, "Is just not cricket".
