England's Ashes

In 1882, Australian cricketers won a test match on British soil for the first time. Next day, the following epitaph appeared in the London Sporting Times: "In affectionate remembrance of English Cricket which died at the Oval on 29th of 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.)"

This gloomy conceit tickled Britishers so thoroughly that they have not yet tired of it. British and Australian cricket teams have this season been playing for the Ashes since Dec. 2. Last week the fourth test began at Brisbane. Australia was behind, two matches to one, but a more than respectable 340 in the first innings made the situation look more cheerful--until Hedley Verity of Yorkshire and Edward Paynter of Lancashire, with his neck wrapped in bandages to ward off a cold, pulled England out of the innings with 356. In Australia's second innings, Stanley McCabe made himself look foolish by ducking the pitches of England's bowler, Harold Larwood, instead of trying to defend his wicket. Australia was set down for 175 runs. In a light rain next morning, a dismal little gallery of 1,000 watched England run up 157 for four wickets, then clinch the series and the Ashes when Paynter, batting with Ames, slogged out a boundary hit that ended the test, 519 to 515, with six wickets to spare.

Particularly disastrous for Australia, this year's series--which will not be officially finished until the superfluous fifth test has been played this week--started in Sydney, where England won by ten wickets. Australia won the second match at Melbourne but only after famed Don Bradman, whom Antipodeans justifiably consider the greatest batsman in the world, had been bowled for a duck on the first pitch in full view of 64,000 admirers. The third match, at Adelaide, gave rise to a deplorable controversy about the "body-line" bowling of Harold Larwood, who aimed his pitches so that they hit one Australian batsman on the chest and another on the head. Bowler Larwood was loudly barracked (jeered). The Australian Board of Cricket Control protested to the Marylebone Cricket Club of London that his methods were unsporting. The Maryle-bone--which was formed 200 years ago and in 1788 drafted the rules of cricket as they now stand--defended Bowler Larwood, offered to cancel the rest of the series (TIME, Feb. 6). When England won the Ashes last week, the Australian Board of Cricket Control promptly cabled congratulations. The Marylebone sent thanks, appreciation for "the kind reception given to the team."

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