BY JOHN DAVIDSON
THERE’S A sporting series in the UK right now that is captivating a country, and probably about a quarter of the world.
You might of heard of it, it’s cricket’s Ashes. Australia vs England, that old rivalry, are both battling it out for one of sport’s oldest trophies. Dating all the way back to 1882, it is  arguably the premier event in the code.
For nearly 150 years the Aussies and the English have gone to toe in bat and ball. The Ashes has so much rich history, so much tradition and colour that it transcends just those hardcore cricket nuts.
The 2023 series has been no different.
As the third Test kicked off today in Leeds, with Australia holding a 2-0 lead, a lot of the globe’s sporting eyes have been fixed on it. The controversy and drama of the first two Tests, particularly at Lords’, have ensured huge media coverage and national interest.
Social media has been ablaze, arguments have rolled on, debates have beem lively, even the Prime Ministers of both countries have waded into the furoure.
The Ashes rivalry shows the true power of international sport, of international contests. This is not just a club vs club or town vs town event. It’s more like its own Olympics or FIFA World Cup.
And so we look to rugby league’s own Ashes series, a concept that has been dormant for 20 years.
Yes, rugby league has its own engaging Ashes event between Australia and Great Britain that dates all the way back to 1908. It might not be as big or as well-known as the cricket version, but it still does have its own proud history and incredible stories – “The Invincibles”, “The Unbeatables”, Lewis Jones, Mal Meninga, Jim Sullivan, Clive Churchill, Garry Schofield, the Lions of 1958 and many others.
The big difference between cricket’s Ashes and ours, is that cricket has invested, nurtured and pushed its Ashes series over the decades. It has made it grow and blossom and take off, adding to its mythology and amazing background. Like a plant it has been watered regularly.
It has become the pinnacle.
While rugby league has done the opposite. It has let its Ashes, that was attracting nearly 58,000 fans at Wembley in 1994 and over 70,000 at the SCG in 1932, wither on the vine.
How bloody sad and disappointing.
We had a concept that was popular and worked, and we’ve let it disappear in front of our very own eyes.
From 1908 until 1994 the Ashes was played every three or four years like clockwork. Apart from the interference of two World Wars, it was a regular event and savoured by fans.
But a few things have seen it ignored and discarded. One was the introduction of State of Origin in the 1980s. NSW vs Queensland has grown into an entertaining, money-making juggernaut. It’s become of the biggest events in Australian sport.
Secondly, the gap between Australia and Great Britain/England has expanded greatly. The Brits have not held the Ashes since 1970. Since then 13 series have been contests and the green and gold have won them all. Australia has been dominant.
After the 1979 series, which Australia won 3-0, the gap between the two nations has been vast. More recently the Kangaroos have looked to New Zealand as a more regular and credible opponent.
Thirdly, the Super League/ARL war of the mid-1990s waged war on international rugby league especially. There has only been two Ashes series since, in 2001 and 2003. During the Super League war we had two Aussie national teams, the Kangaroos and the Super League version. It became a farce.
Fourthly, Australia has largely withdrawn from the international game. The NRL has become more wealthy, Origin a money-spinner, and there has been a view of why bother with internationals. Why bother with playing England/GB. Insularity has grown.
All of this has meant we have lost a viable, engaging concept. We have let one of our unique selling points as a sport die in front of our eyes.
Many millions will be watching the events at Headingley today and over the next four days. Many millions will read reports of the series, listen to it on radio and debate it with their friends, colleagues, neighbours and spouses.
Rugby league once had something similar, but we let it slip through our fingers.
Shame on us.
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