Forget all your preconceptions of cricket, whether you be American and are strangely bemused by it, or if you're English and find the whole notion of cricket boring. Stop. For as the DVD box set reads, "The Greatest Series", there has been no greater sporting achievement by England, since '66, and with respect to rugby 2003, no greater sporting spectacle than this.
This was sporting theatre at its very finest
To place into context for all those who are unaware of what The Ashes are. The Oval (one of Englands grandest sporting venues) "Test" in August 1882, has been noted as one of the most exciting, and greatest tests of all time. The game between England and the Austrlians had dipped, twisted and turned on far too many occasions to count. One moment England had the game won, the next the Austrlians, it truly was a thrilling encounter. England normally ran the asylum when it came to cricket, but the Australian side led by William Lloyd Murdoch already held an impressive record, for out of 29 test matches, they had won 18, and the Australians proved too strong for England, and Australia had won the test. The following day, 29th August 1882, The Times newspaper wrote a mock obituary to English cricket, in the form of a gravestone, which read "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." Thus the idea of The Ashes was born. The bail and wickets of that match were burnt and placed in an urn, which remains in London, but the essence of The Ashes, the victory, went home with the Australians.
That, business done with now, the DVD set, provides extensive highlights and coverage from key, exciting and mesmerising moments from all five tests, with commentary from the Channel 4 team, including Richie Benauds last stint in the chair in England. Also includes the cackling Geoffrey Boycott, the perfect commentator Mark Nicholas, the under stated Tony Grieg, the excitable Micheal Slater and Former England Captain Micheal Atherton. The box set comes in three discs, Disc 1 - The Lords Test, The Edgbaston Test Disc 2 - The Old Trafford Test, The Trent Bridge Test Disc 3 - The Finale. The Oval Test. Extras
The true genius of this set, and the true beauty, is for those that have seen the tests before. If you haven't, fear not, as the coverage, covers all you need to know and see, but the essence of this is for those that spent from 10:30 - 6:30 hooked in front of the television, watching every bowl, every stroke, every four, every wicket, every catch, every run. As you recall the feelings that went through you at the time you saw it, as the game slowly began to develop. The sporting theatre that captivated a nation and put football on hold for a month. Watching the way England capitulated in the first test, and the gallant run chase of the Australians in the second. The mesmeric bowling in the third test, as reverse swing became a prominent factor, the 127 needed by England to win the fourth which suddenly became as large a target as 400.
Flintoff's magical six that cleared the stadium, Warne's "Strauss" ball, Kevin Pietersons batting and dropped catches, Ricky Ponting's captaining decisions, the wicket keepers and the intense pressure they were under, Harmissons bounce, Brett Lee's pace, the rain!!! All these factors came together for one of the most captivating sporting events to hit television in years. If you love sport, then you can appreciate the drama that occurred, and how everything was never as it appeared to be, the tension that captivated a nation. The pride of the Commonwealth was at stake. The deep seated rivalry of England and those she sent to that far away land. This wasn't just cricket. This was The Ashes. This was England vs Australia.
