I know I watched a lot of the test matches for the Ashes on BBC 2 in 1970 as that was the only thing on - hour after hour, day after day of unfathomable sports as we visited everyone we were related to who was over 78 for two months. This gent below, waiting the start of the big game starting the big series, likely watched 35 years ago, too, but got more out of it.

The Ashes, I learn this morning, are actually a mockery and are perhaps the only major sports prize that is based on a joke after England's first loss in England to anybody, or at least so teacheth Auntie Beeb:

The following day a mock obituary ran in the Sporting Times: "In affectionate remembrance of English cricket, which died at The Oval on 29th August, 1882". It added: "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia." Those mythical ashes became a reality when the next England team toured down under. Prior to that trip, England had travelled south three times with little success. They drew the first series and lost the next two, which sandwiched a home victory - nine matches in total of which Australia won four to England's two. But the English took revenge on the 1882/83 trip when the Hon Ivo Bligh was presented with an urn containing the burnt remains of a bail after beating the home side 2-1.