It turned out to be a beautiful coincidence that on the day of the momentous clash between England and Australia, the bat used by Donald Bradman in the 1934 Ashes series was also decided to be sold at an auction. This is the piece of wood with which Bradman did a lot of damage to the England bowling attack while amassing a jaw-dropping 758 runs that included two triple centuries. The conjunction of scenarios is emblematic of the significance of the Ashes for both nations. But how many people know the real story behind the Ashes?
The Mock Obituary And The Consequences
The tale dates back to 29 August 1882, when Australia defeated England on the latter’s soil for the first time and it rankled the losing side no end. To add fuel to the fire, Australians printed a deriding obituary stating that “England cricket died at the Oval cricket ground and body would be cremated and the ashes were taken to Australia.” The comment was more metaphorical than literal.
Afterwards, England also scheduled a series in Australia and the then England captain Hon. Ivo Bligh promised to bring the Ashes home. Again there existed no trophy or souvenir for the winning side. In a twist of fate this time, England turned the tables on the Oz. After the match, an Australian lady, Florence Murphy, burnt the bails of the stumps. Then, it is believed, the lady gathered the ashes of the burnt bails, put them inside a perfume bottle and presented it to Bligh. The Ashes trophy, currently in use, is similar in shape to the perfume bottle.
The Blossoming Of A Love Story
After this, the jubilant English squad showed the bottle around in England to proclaim with pride that the humiliation has been avenged. However, a tale of love also unfolded simultaneously as Bligh was absolutely smitten by the lady’s action. So, the love-lorn English captain left for Australia to propose to her. Upon reaching Oz, Bligh confessed his love to Murphy and they both got married. The couple remained in wedlock for the rest of their lives. Hence, the Ashes has a robust link with a heart-warming and feel-good romantic tale apart from a fierce rivalry.
The Emergence Of The Ashes
The perfumed bottle remained at Bligh’s residence till his death. After his demise, Murphy gave the bottle to Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of Lord’s cricket stadium. Then in 1990, the boards of Australia and England cricket teams decided to have a bilateral series every two years and named the encounter Ashes. It was also decided that the cup/ trophy meant for the winning team would be a perfume bottle similar to the one gifted to the English captain Bligh. Thus, emerged one of the greatest rivalries on the cricket fields which has been enthralling the cricket fanatics, across the continents, for decades.
