To be fair the last time England won the Ashes before 2005 was in 1986 in Australia! England hadn't won them on home soil since around 1984!

I love cricket and I got to my late 20's NEVER knowing or understanding what it was like to win the Ashes as I couldn't remember properly. So the generation of players which won back the Ashes in 2005 were a group of players who did something very special indeed after years of Australian dominace, it was that release of emotion at it being so very long which is what you were seeing. When we won the Ashes again last year things were much more muted.

Maybe Australia should go 20 odd years without wining the Ashes then you might understand how it feels.

As for this whole POM and sport thing, it doesn't really bother me at all. You would have to be very sensitive and thin skinned to let it bother you all that much. I was in Sydney when we won the Rugby Union world cup in November 2003. The morning after I went in to the office wearing my England rugby top, priceless It is fine so long as you give as good as you get.

I have been to many Australia V England sporting events and only once have I been slightly worried about being English at a sporting venue in Australia. I went with my wife to a 50 overs Australia V England day / night match at the SCG in around Jan / Feb 2003 I think it was. Whilst trying to get out of the SCG there were a few idiots looking for a bit of trouble, they were actively trying to find a POM to bash and they found one, poor guy didn't know what hit him.

They're just trying to hype the whole thing up because it is such an insignificant event.

One interesting thing I find is how seriously England take the Ashes cricket series. They anticipate it for months beforehand, half the UK seems to be headed over to watch it down here and when it's in England the whole country seems to be absorbed in it as if it is a major battle for national pride that actually holds some currency in terms of the UK's standing internationally, I can imagine there are major tears if England lose it judging by how much they carry on when they win it.

Down here it is just another sporting event in a long line of major sporting events, sure people anticipate it and get into it, but no one really mentions it or cares until the week or two before it starts and then everyone accepts it is just a game and not some sort of life or death battle with severe consequences for the nation.

When South Africa toured down here a couple of years ago there was the same level of excitement as an Ashes series. I don't think England is the major factor, Australians are into any sporting contest that involves Australia.

Sorry, this is just plainly incorrect, all of it. To pick on one point - do you honestly think that English and Welsh people justify themselves internationally from a sport that only has 8 teams?

Of course cricket fans look forward to it, it only happens once every 4 years!

Personally I find Australian media attitude to sport tiresome and boring - my favourite moment was a news presenter basking in the glory of the last Englishman to get knocked out of Wimbledon - Andy Murray, the ignorance is outstanding.

The Ashes usually happens every 18 months.

I'm responding to the quote "and when it's in England"...

So yes it is once every 4 years. And yes people will get excited because it's been so long since the last. And no most of England can't come to Australia, so for most it's a rare chance to see a great sporting contest.

And also because of the seasons being reversed between northern and southern hemisphere, there is actually only 16 months between the start of an ashes series following it being in England/Wales. But 32 months following an Australia series.

Okay. It is clear now.

No worries - I'm always doing that, assuming everyone knows what I'm thinking. Should have made it clearer what part of the quote I was referring to.

Read my post Like I said 2005 was rather different and special as if you do not win something for well over 20 years then it is rather special.

The last Ashes series last year was very different. Ticket sales were still good but nowhere near the same hype as 2005.

I know what you mean but it doesn't bother me, I find it amusing. In a way I like it that we are considered the team to beat, lets face it they are not going to pick Malta or Nauru as a target to beat.

And I think you are a complete WANK. I'd like to say it's not personal, but it is.
Why don't you leave this forum, it's for British Expats not Aussies who have spent a couple of years in the UK.

C'mon you know better than that, BE welcomes everyone as long as they abide by the rules If it was restricted to Brits we would probably lose 60% of our membership (at a rough guess!)

Sorry have to disagree there.

if Australians don't care about it, how come every game is fully booked with no tickets left within a day or two, 6 months in advance?

A lot of cricket supporters save up to be able to come to Australia to watch the cricket as it's a fantastic place to visit that put's cricket above all other sports and is very well organised. so is a fantastic experience for cricket fans.
And it's not just the English.

Yes there is a great rivalry between the English and Australians surrounding the Ashes and it creates a great atmosphere.

It gets people ordinarily not bothered in cricket interested. Like the world cup attracts people who aren't ordinarily bothered about football, like the Rugby World cup or 6 nations or whatever it's called. People watch it because of the uniqueness of it, and it's relative rarity in the sporting calendar.

Lol.

After living in England and Australia now I can see why, Australians seem to be a lot more active and there seems to be a lot more sports investment.

Although do I need to mention who currently holds the Ashes? and I think is looking likely to KEEP them?

Should we mention Johnny Wilkinson???

I know - a few victories but we have to hold on to them.

And lets not forget the British 1-2 driver championship in Formula 1.......it will happen - you read it here first!

England, generally, does not get over excited by any cricket match, which is considered a minority sport by most, in comparison to Australia.
That said, it's nice to win the Ashes, or any other international sporing event for that matter, but for most people in the England, I don't think it's any more special than winning a cycling gold medal at the olympics or a hockey competition etc.