Ashes: From the archives

1882: The birth of the Ashes
England, despite fielding the luxuriantly bearded WG Grace, the greatest cricketer of the Victorian age who had scored his country`s first Test century two years earlier, lost by seven runs in the sole Test at The Oval. Grace contributed only four and 32 while Fred Spofforth, first in a long line of Australian fast men who were to torment England, took seven wickets in each innings. Needing only 85 to win, England collapsed for 77 with Spofforth, nicknamed the Demon, capturing four for two off his last 11 overs. Australia`s seven-run victory inspired a mock obituary in the Sporting Times: `In Affectionate Remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval on 29 August, 1882.` The body, it said, would be `cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia`.

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