The Ashes is a cricket series played between England and Australia.

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"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."

Reginald Shirley Brooks, The Sporting Times (printed in the obituary)

"I've not travelled 6,000 miles to make friends. I'm here to win the Ashes."

Douglas Jardine, England cricket captain 1930s?

"England have only three major problems. They can't bat, they can't bowl and they can't field."

Journalist Martin Johnson describing England before the 1986/87 tour. England went on to win the Ashes.

"A fart competing with thunder"

Graham Gooch on England's lack of success against Australia in the 1990s http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1570439,00.html

"I'm struggling now, I've not been to bed yet and behind these sunglasses is a thousand stories "

Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, 13th September 2005, The day after England reclaimed the ashes.

"Matthew Hoggard called the Prime Minister a knob when we were celebrating winning the Ashes at a Downing Street function, and you know what? That's the first thing Hoggy's got right in a while. Blair is a knob."

Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff