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Okay cricket fans.  I know NOTHING about cricket, but do of course recognise the term 'The Ashes' and I am curious.  Why are they called 'The Ashes'?  Was a set of stumps once burnt at the end of a victorious match and placed in an urn as the prize?  Anyone??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes

don't -  had to try and explain cricket to some visiting japanese colleagues the other day... my boss came the closest with "a game that lasts 5 days which probably no one will win"

Thank you  ;D

The greatest compertition in the world is less than one week away now,

Come on England retain those ASHES,   please

Taken from Rob's links on Wiki (why didn't you just copy paste the Ashes info?  :) )

The series is named after a satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times in 1882 following the match at The Oval, in which Australia beat England in England for the first time. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English media dubbed the next English tour, to Australia (1882-83) as the quest to regain The Ashes.

My dad loves Cricket.  Never watched it myself.  Same with Golf.   ;D

My only comment is:

if Mark Ramprakash had been on Strictly Come Dancing at the beginning of his career and had gained the confidence that is has gained from it then instead of now, just think what a fantastic Test batsman he would have been as it always seemed to be confidence in his own ability that let him down.

53-3,  not a great start by are lads  but I seem to remember us losing the first test match on home ground a couple of years ago and being written of as no hoper's, dismiss us at your peril you Aussies