Introduction
After their less than successful Ashes series 'down under' the England Cricket Team's next challenge is the ICC Cricket World Cup taking place in the West Indies.
In this online exhibition we show the fascinating relationship between cricket and the Army. Compare the cricketing superstars of today, like Andrew Flintoff and Shane Warne, with cricket’s Army heroes from the past.
Desert Ashes
The 'Desert Ashes' at Basra, October 2006. NAM 2006-11-6-3 Photo by Corporal Adrian Harlen
Few will forget England’s memorable Ashes victory of 2005, but how many of us knew that another cricketing contest between the English and Australians was taking place in the burning deserts of Iraq at about the same time?
Australian and British soldiers from The Light Dragoons and the 2nd Australian Cavalry Regiment marked the Ashes by playing each other in a series of games during July and August 2005.
The victorious 2nd Australian Cavalry team at Al Muthanna, Iraq © Defence Digital Media
They were serving together at Al Muthann, about five kilometres (three miles) south of Baghdad. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in April 2003, both had been helping to restore essential infrastructure and provide security. The Australians managed to lay a concrete wicket and a length of coconut matting. All around the ad-hoc ground soldiers formed up to cheer on their respective teams.
Aussie victory
An Australian fielder leaps for a catch, Al Muthanna, 2005. © Defence Digital Media
Play had to be temporarily suspended when a helicopter came in to land, causing a dust storm that engulfed the pitch! The game ended with an Australian triumph by 118 runs, after a century off 15 overs from their leading batsman, Major Steve Mott. England were 102 all out in reply to Australia's 220 off 25 overs. The game was backed with equipment from Cricket Australia and the England Cricket Board. Four more matches between the teams were organised. The Australians won the series 4-1.
Re-matches
A Light Dragoon batsmen is bowled out during the 'Desert Ashes', Al Muthanna, 2005. © Defence Digital Media
On Boxing Day 2005 another match was played in the Al Muthanna province, this time between 5th/7th Royal Australian Regiment and 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, at Camp Smitty. The match was again played on a concrete and matting square, surrounded by a stony pitch completely free of grass. The Australians batted first in the 20-over match and set a target of 178 runs for the Paras. They managed 112 runs in response. More recently, a match between English and Australian soldiers was played on 25 October 2006 in Basra.
Undertaken to mark the forthcoming Ashes Test series, the match ended with a victory for the Australians. England made 109 for 9 off their 30 overs, but the Australians responded with 113 runs off 27.5 overs.
Morale
Auxiliary Territorial Service cricket match, c1940-1945. NAM 1994-07-295-21
Friendly matches like the ‘Desert Ashes’ have always taken place between different regiments, brigades and divisions of the Commonwealth’s armies. The British Army has also regularly played cricket against the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
Such contests help promote and maintain military efficiency and morale. Both male and female soldiers play cricket. Wherever in the world the Army has been stationed cricket matches have taken place against local civilian teams. Such events play a key role in building links with local populations and winning ‘hearts and minds’.
