Ashes Cricket
Posted by admin on Jul 5, 2009
What are “The Ashes” ?
Well as every cricket fan will know, especially those from England & Australia, The Ashes is a test series dating back to 1882. It is played every other year during the Summer months of the respective countrys and as England and Australia are geographically in opposite hemispheres it means the series are played approximately 18 to 30 months apart.
The name “The Ashes” originates from a match at The Oval when Australia beat England for the first time on English soil and The Sporting Times printed an article stating that English cricket had died and the body would be cremated and taken to Australia. When the next series was due to take place in Australia the English press stated that England were trying to regain “The Ashes”. During that series a small urn was presented to the England team and was reputed to hold the ashes of a cricketing item, possibly a bail although there have been many different claims as to the orign of the ashes in the urn. However it took many years before the series became known as “The Ashes” and consequently “the trophy” was not given to the winners each time. It remained with the captain, Ivo Bligh, to whom it was presented and now the urn normally resides in the musem at the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) to whom it was presented by Ivo Bligh’s widow when he died.
There has been recent calls in the press for the urn to be physically presented to the winners and taken to Australia if they win the series, and for the last 10 years a crystal representation of the urn has been presented as an official trophy of the series.
In recent times, the 2005 series held in England has been rated one of the most exciting of all time with England coming out on top by winning two matches, drawing two and loosing one. The second match, England won by 2 runs, the smallest ever runs margin in Ashes history. For those of us in England at the time we won’t forget the scenes of victory and the open top bus parade through London and especially Freddie Flintoff as he appeared to have slightly “overdone” the celebrations! although he can be forgiven as he scored over 400 runs and took 24 wickets.
The next series in Australia in 2006/07 was a disaster for England as they were whitewashed 5-0, the first time that had happened since 1920. Flintoff again hit the headlines for his off the field antics reportedly in a pedlo ! Ricky Ponting was the star batsman for Australia scoring 576 runs, and with the ball, Stuart Clark, Shane Warne and Glen McGrath all took over 20 wickets.
In 2009 the series will again be played in England and for the first time a match will be played at Sophia Gardens in Wales. The other venues are Lords, Edgbaston, Headingly and the Oval.
Australia will be without some of their stars of recent years including that fantastic player Shane Warne and Glen McGrath so England will be hoping that they can again regain “The Ashes” by pulling of a series win on home soil.
Live - South Africa v England
Posted by admin on Dec 20, 2009
Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott hit half-centuries as England rally chasing an unlikely 364 to win the first Test at Centurion.
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Ponting hopeful over fitness race
Posted by admin on Dec 20, 2009
Australia captain Ricky Ponting is hopeful he will be fit for the start of the Test series against Pakistan on Boxing Day.
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A Phoenix Rises From The Ashes: Atlanta Travel Information
Posted by admin on Dec 8, 2009
To gain a full understanding of America’s struggle through infancy and keeping the threads of the nation together during the Civil War, Atlanta is a mandatory travel destination. The entire city was at one point or another an actual battleground for many pivotal moments during the Civil War. The Union Invasion into Atlanta in 1864 is even the center story of the famous 1939 film, Gone with the Wind. Find your airfare to Atlanta today and immerse yourself in the city’s tumultuous centuries and even find some good ol’ southern hospitality.
Most major assets in Atlanta were destroyed during the Union siege of the city and when Union General Sherman finally gained control, he ordered the city to be burned to the ground on November 11, 1864, save some churches and hospitals. Thus Atlanta began again, leading the southeast in industry at the end of the 19th century and racial equality during the Civil Rights movement.
A Large Obsession in Atlanta
A new beginning in Atlanta meant open space for large public works and a sense of hometown pride that has been glorified by many art displays and projects. Book your airfare to Atlanta and begin your journey through history at the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum, which is home to the world’s largest painting, “The Battle of Atlanta.” The painting is in diorama form with a revolving audience viewing platform.
If you leave the museum hungry, head on over to The Varsity, the first location of the chain and the world’s largest drive-in restaurant. Then, make your way to the Georgia Aquarium, which is - you guessed it - the world’s largest aquarium. Eight million gallons of water and 100,000 living specimens hold this elaborate marine wonderland heads above the rest. If you’re ready to see Atlanta’s outlying surroundings, take a drive to Stone Mountain to see the largest piece of exposed granite slab in the world carved into the busts of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. For a taste of southern musical culture, make sure you travel to Atlanta during the Atlanta Jazz Festival, which happens to be the largest free jazz festival in the United States.
Capture Contemporary Atlanta
Atlanta is littered with modern cultural sights and post-modern design. Take a visit to the unique World of Coca Cola museum where the soda company’s incredibly successful marketing strategy is revealed during a journey through the 20th century. You can see the legend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s civil rights organizing and campaigning at the King Center, where his tomb rests in the center of a reflecting pool. For an evening out, visit the Woodruff Arts Center and choose among symphony, ballet, theater or its expansive are collection.
Atlanta is one of the most easily accessible destinations in the United States, hosting the headquarters or major hubs of most major airlines at its airport. America’s heritage and legends await; what are you waiting for?
Elyse Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-phoenix-rises-from-the-ashes-atlanta-travel-information-95979.html
