Cricket's burning passion

By Scyld Berry

Subjects: Biography, Cricket captains, Test matches (Cricket), History

Description: "After England's cricketers famously lost to Australia at the Oval in August 1882 a mock obituary notice was published in the "Sporting Times", announcing that 'the body [of English cricket] would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. It was this announcement that brought 'the Ashes' into existence"--Publisher's description.