Gearing up to Ashes 2019

Picture credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgreef/431806671/

Arguably the biggest event in the world of cricket, The Ashes 2019 is less than a week away. It's an on going debate whether the Ashes is bigger than the World Cup itself, and why not? it's older than the World Cup by close to a 100 years. Ashes is a rivalry, a rivalry which reveals every sportsman as an individual outside of sport and the players put their lives to win it. It's about pride for the players, for the nation and more so for the game to evolve. Many players from both countries have put winning the Ashes as a more superior goal than to win the World Cup. That in itself says a lot about the tournament which demands both mental and physical fitness. I wonder what cricket would be without the Ashes. Could it be of the level what we are witnessing today? England and Australia are cricket rivals and amongst the best in the firsts who started playing cricket. The pride to be superior, dominant and above all, means a lot to both nations, and that's what is at stake. The urn (trophy) might look tiny, but it carries the weight of a millions praying and 22 players putting their lives for the tiny trophy to be in their country.

The World Cup is over. The champions are on a high and there come the mighty Aussies in search for the semi final revenge against the newly crowed champions. As Joe Root said "The Ashes are going to be even bigger than the World Cup, especially on the back of the World Cup" and I don't doubt even an ounce with that statement. It's a pity for England that they have to play the Ashes in the year they won the World Cup. I am saying this because imagine losing Ashes to an away side, soon after you won the World Cup. The talks of being champions of the World will be dust, just because English cricket will die again and the body will be cremated with the Ashes being taken to Australia. The tournament is rough, it's raw, it's intense. On the other side, it's a great opportunity for England to announce their dominance in World cricket by winning the Ashes. It's a big toll on the Englishmen. They prepared from 2015 to 2019 to win the Cricket World Cup and in a couple of weeks time, they are going to have to fight for the Ashes. The Aussies on the other hand will play their brand of cricket, trying to wear down the opposition mentally and then physically. They will sledge, they will be fierce and they can go to any extent to retain the Ashes, especially when it's held in England. They might use the sandpaper again,...? Anyone? Haha

It's a good year for cricket, first with the World Cup which arguably had an epic finale in the history of not only cricket, but the entire fraternity of sports. Hopefully 2019 Ashes brings a classic story for everyone to rejoice and remember. Every Ashes has a story in itself, it's so deeply ingrained in the minds of the players that winning Ashes is winning the World, having the World at your feet. That's the reason of the emotions blurting out intensely, the rivalry which started years ago is till date the most fierce and intense rivalry in the history of cricket. It's helped cricket evolve and will continue to do so for years to come. Let's see what the 2019 Ashes have in store for cricket.