The Little Book of the Ashes: Cricket’s oldest, and fiercest, rivalry

The greatest quotes and most defining moments

No contest in cricket comes close to matching The Ashes for drama, passion and sporting theatre.

When England and Australia go head to head, two countries hold their collective breath and prepare for a roller-coaster ride of power, pride, pain and victory at all costs. But it’s also about respect - a love of the game and the realisation that two great sporting nations are entwined through one of sport’s greatest rivalries.

With over 135 years of Ashes history, here’s a collection of the best quotes and defining moments - from ‘Bodyline’ to ‘Botham’s Ashes’, from Lord’s to the Gabba, from ‘The Don’ to ‘The Barmy army’.

‘In my day, 58 cans from Sydney to London would have virtually classified you as a teetotaller.’ - Ian Chappel, in 1989, after being told David Boon drank 58 cans of beer on the flight.

‘If you turn the bat over there’s instructions on the back.’ - Merv Hughes to Graeme Hick after yet another play and miss.