Reliving cricket's greatest rivalry
With the 2009 Ashes almost upon us we are all wondering what great moments of cricket history are going to be created over the next seven weeks.
Cricket's greatest rivalry always seems to bring about something special - and if you'd like to relive some of those magical moments well now you can with the launch of the "Test Match Special Ashes Archive."
If you log onto www.bbc.co.uk/ashesarchive you can find moments stretching back to the infamous of 1932/33. As well as great commentary the archive will also include some classic TMS moments from Arlott to Aggers as well as memories from the current team.
You can get a
A top 40 of great Ashes moments has been selected from last Test 100 to Jim Laker's 19 wickets at Old Trafford, from TMS summariser Geoff Boycott's 100th 100 at Headingley in 1977 to Ian Botham's 1981 heroics.
There are plenty of more recent moments including another TMS expert , the incredible two-run win at Edgbaston in 2005 and even Steve Harmison's horror ball at the start of the Ashes two years ago.
During the lunch interval on Wednesday we'll be hearing some of these moments and discussing why the Ashes is so special. As always we want to hear from you.
E-mail tms@bbc.co.uk or contribute to this blog with your favourite Ashes memories and tell us why you think this series is so magical.
And don't forget to join us on 5 Live Sports Extra, Radio Four longwave and online from 1025 BST on Wednesday morning for the start of the 2009 vintage. 2005 Ashes winner and local favourite Simon Jones will be one of our special guests on the first morning of the game.
I can't wait !
Comment number 1.
At 7th Jul 2009, Surreybloke wrote:The coverage is also on 720mw, which is how I have to listen when I'm in my car.
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Comment number 2.
At 7th Jul 2009, U14062323 wrote:Just read Gideon Haigh's Ashes blog on The Wisden Cricketer, , well worth a read
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Comment number 3.
At 8th Jul 2009, Paddy Murphy wrote:Been a Pom down under for a 7 months now and was really feeling connected to Australia, until I went onto youtube and watched highlights of the 2005 series to the rousing backing track of 'Jerusalem', never before have I wanted to give the Ozzies a pummelling!
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Comment number 4.
At 8th Jul 2009, Paddy Murphy wrote:(*such a pummelling) of course I always want to give them some form of pummeling!
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Comment number 5.
At 8th Jul 2009, ferenginar wrote:Torchwood - Day 2, We are coming tomorrow. It's not Aliens, it's the Aussies. No Surprise it's in Cardiff. 456 is the score from the Perth test Dec 2002 when the Aussies notch up record 8th win.
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Comment number 6.
At 8th Jul 2009, exalll wrote:Except of course, you can't "relive cricket's greatest rivalry" if you are not in the UK because the 91Èȱ¬ blocks access. No doubt it's something to do with rights, and the fact that footage of Don Bradman's last 100 might be pirated by unscrupulous foreign internet users. Ridiculous!
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Comment number 7.
At 8th Jul 2009, Hungrymark wrote:A great moment took place on day 4 of The Oval test in 2005. The teams had been off the field for bad light but play was about to continue. The Australians, needing all the time they could get their hands on to try and bowl out the English, all went back on to the pitch wearing sunglasses, and with big grins plastered all over their faces. A great moment that reminded me (and I hope others after a series of great quality and serious rivalry) that it is just a game after all.
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Comment number 8.
At 8th Jul 2009, ark_28 wrote:The Ashes is one of the most celebrated and coveted events, in world sport.
With the advent of Twenty20 Cricket many have feared for the future of the longer form of the game, but the Ashes is still the series that both the English players and the Australians dream of playing from the time they first play the sport.
In 2005 England sealed an epic, victory against Ricky Ponting's men clinching a memorable series, which went all the way down to the wire.
Australia have since exacted a measure of revenge winning the series in 2006/7 5-0 and they will be desperate to win an Ashes series on English soil, it is the one accomplishment, missing from Ricky Ponting's glowing resume, leading Australia to victory in an Ashes series in England.
Pace sensation Brett Lee being ruled out of action for the first 2 Tests with a rib injury is a massive blow for Australia, but both teams are renowned for their fighting spirit and bravery, with all these things considered, we should be in for a cracking 7 weeks of Test Match cricket.
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Comment number 9.
At 8th Jul 2009, infobleep wrote:Really enjoying the test match. It's great to hear Blowers commentating once more.
It's interesting to see the amount of additional programming that appears on the radio and online just because it's the ashes. But then the ashes isn't just any out cricket series/match involving England.
It would however be even more fantastic if the TMS commentary could be available on the 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer as a listen again. No matter how great or interesting all the surrounding programs might be, the real gem and the thing which everything else is built upon, is the TMS commentary and the test match itself. Without either of this there would be nothing else so it would be great if the commentary was available.
Anyway here's to an exciting and even sided test series.
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Comment number 10.
At 8th Jul 2009, Tea Time At Harrods wrote:I dont think Australia and England is crickets greatest rivalry in the slightest.Just because it may be it's longest , it is ridiculous to suggest that this fact alone instills great competition.Have you ever witnessed a Pakistan/India game. There is no love lost and no quarter given.it is far more of an interesting and noisy spectacle than 22 men with zinc on their noses ambling around in the middle of a chilly English summers afternoon.
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Comment number 11.
At 8th Jul 2009, baggisrus49 wrote:Watched a bit of coverage on the TV just before lunch and wondered if anyone else has noticed that Johnson has a very similar delivery stride to Graham Dilley, the way he drags his left foot is very reminscent albeit left arm as opposed to right arm
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Comment number 12.
At 8th Jul 2009, Tantivvy wrote:The 91Èȱ¬ cricket world seems to start so far as test match scoring is concerned with Bill Frindall. Why nothing on Roy Webber, Arnold Yapp or Arthur Wrigley?
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Comment number 13.
At 9th Jul 2009, U14063792 wrote:gideon haigh is blogging throughout the ashes on the wisden cricketer website. worth a look -
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