Talk:The Ashes

Ball or Bails?

I seem to recall reading that it was the bails of the stumps that were burnt to make the Ashes, not the ball? --KotomiT^nandeyanen? 08:14, 9 February 2009 (EST)

Yes, it was indeed the bails, not the ball.

Good catch, KotomiT! Davidklein 08:41, 9 February 2009 (EST)

Ah! But it would appear as if we have all been misled. According to the ref I added to the article, it says "In 1982 evidence was brought forward suggesting that the Ashes were those of a ball and were presented to Bligh by Sir William Clarke in a ceremony BEFORE the Test series." Another childhood myth goes down the tubes. --KotomiT^nandeyanen? 08:44, 9 February 2009 (EST)

I'll have to look into this later on, as I'm working right now, but it seems there is some controversy about the origination of the actual ashes. As you say, we've all (in particular the British and Aussies) been brought up to believe they came from the bails, just as we've all been brought up to believe that rugby started because some cheating soccer player called William Webb Ellis decided to pick the ball up (also controversial!). Davidklein 09:12, 9 February 2009 (EST)