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The Ashes are Test matches played betwixt Australia and the old enemy England. They are competed for every four years in England and every four years in Australia. They are hugely fierce battles and attracted huge crowds and massive television audiences. The winner 'wins' a little urn, but that never gets to leave England as it is stored in Lord's cricket ground, in London. It contains the burnt remains of some bails burnt after England had been defeated at home by Australia and signifying the death of cricket - the Empire rulers were distraught at the thought that a bunch of 'criminals' could beat them at the game their masters had invented!

The Ashes series is currently being played in Britain - note I say Britain because for the first time England have played a home Test match outside England. The first Test of the series took place in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. For once, the Welsh seemed to support England - they oppose them in every other sport! That support was much appreciated as England held on against the odds for a draw on the fifth and last day of the match.

The style of cricket is much changed over the years, mainly due to Australian influence. Nowadays the batsmen are more aggressive, going for their strokes, attempting to score runs as quickly as possible. In the past, the sides concentrated on defence rather than attack. This was not so entertaining for the fans. Twenty20 cricket and other limited overs forms of the game have allowed players - batsmen and bowlers - to experiment much more and to take risks. And the standards of fielding are superb - in the old days fielders were afraid to dive in case they got their lovely white flannels dirty. Nowadays you see players pull off some absolutely stunning catches that alter the course of a game. It is a much more exciting spectacle.

Nowhere in the world are matches so keenly contested as those between England and Australia. In recent times, Australia has had the upper hand as the world's top team, although England boasted a rare victory in 2005 - and then went over the top by awarding all the team players the MBE. The defeat was a national disgrace in Australia. But the Aussies managed to gain revenge when they whitewashed England by winning every single Test match 'back home' in 2006. This year's series is touted to be another close contest - but who knows. One thing is for sure, all 22 players involved in each game will give nothing short of 100 per cent effort. And while victory is so sweet, defeat will hurt more than anything else they experience in the sport.

Learn more about this author, Jon Wills.
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