Barring the rain, the summer of 2023 contained some of the most exciting cricket in Ashes history.
As an Australian, I lived the ups, the downs, and the damp squibs – perhaps you did too, though in the opposite direction. Australia does well in Australia but, as far as English fans are concerned, that all happens in the middle of the night. Series in England are what count for the English. And in England, Australia haven’t won outright for 20 years. In that time I’ve never had to set up any scores notifications on my phone. Every Australian wicket that falls and every English victory that’s won is instantly texted to me by friends – often accompanied by the line: ‘We beat you!’
Funny how we use the language of ‘we’ and ‘you’ when actually we’re talking about 11 other people we’ve never met. But that’s the way it works with ‘champions’. They represent us: their victories are our victories; their failures are our failures.
The elderly and bereaved: a growing gospel need
“Let me put it this way. I don’t expect there to be many people at my funeral.”My new friend …