After 130 years, the Ashes, the world's longest running international sporting competition is still going strong. Hotly contested between Australia and England, it captivates public interest in the UK and Australia and exemplifies the fierce but friendly rivalry between the two cricket-loving nations. Bestselling author and cricket enthusiast, Roland Perry, charts the history and highlights of this great sporting competition; from the first English tours of Australia when the colonials aspired to beat Mother England at her own game, to the historic Ashes tour of 2005 when Britain reclaimed the Ashes in a surprise upset after years of Australian dominance on the pitch. THE ASHES: A CELEBRATION recounts the memorable tours, players and amazing individual performances that created the legend of the Ashes. Such as the inaugural match in March 1877 when an Australian team beat England at the MCG in the first ever international cricket match. A terrific win for the colony, it only raised eyebrows in England; seeing was believing after all. When Australia beat England again by seven runs on home turf in a thriller at the Oval in 1882, the Ashes competition was born.