Boasting one of the oldest sporting traditions globally, the Ashes are one of the sport's most significant battles.
The birth of the Ashes has been passed down through families for generations, and it all started in 1882 when Australia defeated a full-strength England XI for the first time on English soil. As is a common trend in the 21st century, the English media condemned their chargers for such a catastrophic failure, publishing a satirical obituary in the Sporting Times.
'In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval, 29 August 1882'.
-N.B. The body will be cremated, and the Ashes taken to Australia'.
With the sudden death of English Cricket, one man was hell-bent on reclaiming the urn, and his name was The Hon. Ivo Bligh. Akin to King Arthur searching for the Holy Grail, Bligh embarked on the noblest sporting quest and captained England to the 1882/83 Ashes victory on down under.
As the story goes, Bligh was celebrating Christmas at the Rupertswood Manor, the elaborate home of Sir William Clarke, when he was presented the burnt bails of the Third Test in a tiny terracotta urn by his future wife, Florence Morphy.
Australian sports journalist Clarence Murphy revived the concept of 'The Ashes' in the 1890s. It became an integral part of the Australian/England rivalry when English captain Pelham Warner published a novel after his resounding 1903-04 Tour win titled 'How We Recovered the Ashes.'
Specific Tests have been played that will go down in the annals of the long history. Some have shocked us, some have enthralled us, some have devastated us. Let's look into the Top 10 Greatest Ashes Tests in History and dive into the players who created their own history.
9. 1930
Third Test, Headingley, 27-1 July (Match Drawn)
Australia 566 (168) & England 391 (175.2) 3/95 (51.5)
Bad weather prevented a result for his Third Test, yet the English crowd was already treated to the finest Test innings in history when Sir Don Bradman became the first and only Test cricketer to make 300 runs in a day.
Fresh off 254-runs in the second Test at Lords, the most magnificent batter in Test history was not finished as he walked to the Headingley crease on day one of the Third Test. The pain had already started early when Bradman cruised to 105 at Lunch, and by the end of day one, Bradman became the second test cricketer to hit the 300 mark.
By the time he was caught behind for 334, Bradman had only faced 448 balls and hit a boundary every 12 minutes. In reply, England made 391 from 175.2 overs, batting for nearly two days due to unstoppable rain, and finished their second innings 3/95 off 51.5 overs.
Sir Don finished the 1930 Ashes series with a record 974 runs at 139.14 from five Tests and finished the English summer with 2960 at 98.66 and 10 centuries, a remarkable feat for a touring cricketer.
