When Ivo Bleigh, then captain of the English team declared that the next year he would go and get back the ashes, it prompted a group of Australian women to present him with an urn with the ashes of a ball, bail or a veil - according to the many prevailing stories.

Since that 1882-83 tour, this famous test series between England and Australia has been dubbed the Ashes. That original urn however is not the trophy - it was Ivo Bleigh's property and following his death, his widow gifted it to the MCC where it has stayed. In the recent years, a crystal replica of that urn is the trophy waived aloft by the winning team.

And this year, the luck seems to run to England again with them winning the first match on home turf - the second match begins today at Lords. The star of the match was undoubtedly Jimmy Anderson who has garnered praise from the likes of Ian Botham too. Despite suffering from cramps just before lunch, Anderson overcame pain to take down the rather unstoppable Haddin for 71, making England win by 14 runs. Strauss too was all praise for Anderson, remarking at his incredible talent that he's not tempered with intelligence and bowling with control.

It's not the first time that the Ashes has given rise to a new cricketing legend. When it comes to batsmen - the Ashes has seen great moments mostly by England but also by Australia - who can forget Allan Border and Steve Waugh? Allan Border's hard-nosed tactics regained the Ashes in 1989 and the dream run continued till 2005. Steve Waugh's batting too was a scourge for all English bowlers - memorable was the 157 not out he made on one leg, with the other leg having a torn calf muscle. Notable English batsmen who shined in the Ashes were Sir Jack Hobbs, Herbet Sutcliff, Walter Hammond and of course, the don, Sir Donald Bradman.

Bowlers too have shined. Frederick "Demon" Spofforth's match figures of 14-90 remain the second best by an Australian against England, making him a legend in his own right. He was also the first bowler to take a Test hat-trick, in Melbourne in 1879. Arrogance-personified Dennis Lillee sounded like a death toll to English batsmen ears. With a frightening bouncer, a deadly yorker and a sharp tongue, Lillee was the cut through a swathe of England batsmen for more than a decade. And then is cricketer and celebrity Shane Warne whose good looks never counteracted his incredible talent. His brazen cricket took an astounding 195 victims. Notable English bowlers who became the scourge of Australian batsmen would be Sydney Barnes, Jim Laker and last but not the least Ian Botham.

Australia Cricket