Bad signs....

[Dr Mordrid]

Year: 1981

1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool crowned Champions of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes
4. Pope Died

Year: 2005

1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool crowned Champions of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes
4. Pope Died

If in the future Prince Charles decides to marry again .... sonmeone PLEASE warn the Pope!!

Dr. Mordrid

[TransformX]

A friend of mine claims that Liverpool winning is always a good sign

[GNEP]

Hey, I'd quite happily sacrifice another pope or 3 for the ashes

[KvHagedorn]

The Pope died in 1978. Twice. Check your sources.

[Dr Mordrid]

I didn't write it

Dr. Mordrid

[cjolley]

Doc posts.
You decide.

[GT98]

3. Australia lost the Ashes

WTF does that mean?

[cjolley]

Simple

1. Prince Charles married
2. Liverpool crowned Champions of Europe.
2a. Charles burned in effigy at party.
2b. Australia stole the ashes and
3. lost lost the Ashes
4. Pope died.
4b. apparently fed the ashes as a prank.

[KRSESQ]

3. Australia lost the Ashes

WTF does that mean?

It's a reference to the "World Series" of Cricket tournaments.

1st Match - Kennington Oval, London 29th August, 1882 (3 day match)

THE TEST THAT STARTED "THE ASHES",

ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA, 1882.

The Oval in 1882, scene of one of the most historic Test matches ever played, and the beginning of a competition that is now known as 'The Ashes'. Lefthanders Peate and Barlow took advantage of a damp tricky wicket, which had seen two full days of rain before the start of play, bowling Australia out for only 63 runs in 2 ¼ hours. (Barlow 19 for 5, Peate 31 for 4).

Spofforth who had fully regained fitness bowled unchanged and in the process took 7 wickets costing only 46 runs. Although a supreme effort, it was unavoidable that England would take a first innings lead and judging by the condition of the pitch, it was widely thought that it was a match winning lead.

Massie and Bannerman began the second day in aggressive mood on what was again a wet pitch due to further downpours. The pair put on 66 for the first wicket; Massie scoring 55 in 45 minutes, Bannerman a supportive 13. Peate took another 4 wickets in the second innings to match his first innings tally and in so doing helped to restrict Australia's total to 122 all out. The total required could have and should have been considerably higher but for the intervention of Grace and 'that run out'. With the score on 114 Murdoch and Jones were set, (although only worth 15 runs their partnership was crucial) and when going for a run, Jones believed he had completed the run and left his crease to 'pat down' the wicket. Grace took the ball and took off the bails, appealed, and Jones was given out. Arguments ensued, Grace received a fair amount of abuse in the moments that followed the incident. This left England a mere 85 runs to win.

Spofforth once again applied the pressure clean bowling Hornby and Barlow in successive balls with the total standing on 15. Ulyett and Grace steadied the sinking ship and took the score to 51 before Blackham caught Ulyett at the wicket; once again the bowler was Spofforth. Tight bowling and very defensive batting from Lucas and Lyttelton saw the visitors playing out 12 successive maiden overs. Wickets fell at regular intervals and when the visitors had reached 70 runs and victory inevitable, the match took a major twist. Six wickets fell for 7 runs and England were 7 runs short of their target. Spofforth whose match figures (90 - 14) were not surpassed until Bob Massie (25 year old from Western Australia) in 1972 took 16 wickets for 137 runs (8 in both innings).

Due to the bizarre twist and turns of the Test match, one spectator died from a heart attack during the closing moments of the match.

At the end of the week The Sporting Times published the famous obituary notice.

In Affectionate Remembrance




Of

ENGLISH CRICKET WHICH DIED AT THE OVAL

On

29th August, 1882,

Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances

R. I. P.

N.B. - The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.

England and Australia have played for the `Ashes' ever since.

IIRC The trophy was burned after the match by the victorious Aussies. Hence "The Ashes."

'Course the extent of my knowledge of the history comes from reading Douglas Adams.

Kevin

[Sasq]

The stumps were burnt from memory. need more coffee though

[Delany]

As far as i recall, It's the bails (little bits of wood that sit on top of the stumps for those of you unfamiliar with Cricket) from the 1882 Test that are in the little wooden urn that are collectively known as "The Ashes"

[Delany]

Even though this is off the original topic, I couldn't resist...

Hey, I'd quite happily sacrifice another pope or 3 for the ashes

I think what you actually mean GNEP is that you would "quite happily sacrifice the integrity of International Umpiring and English Cricket again (as was the case this time around) for the ashes"

[GNEP]

Even though this is off the original topic, I couldn't resist...

I think what you actually mean GNEP is that you would "quite happily sacrifice the integrity of International Umpiring and English Cricket again (as was the case this time around) for the ashes"

It does always make me smile though when at the end of a summer's worth of tense matches you see a bunch of big tall strong sportsmen holding possibly the smallest trophy in existence aloft

[Sasq]

I couldn't decide if it was the stumps or bails. never ever expect my memory to work pre 4th cup o coffee.