The Ashes Urn (Source: Wikipedia CC)
How very different from the mighty 1928 England team touring Australia, which comprehensively beat Australia 4-1! (That series was summarised in this earlier post: 1928 Sydney Ashes Cricket Test)
In A Distant Prospect, English-born club cricketer Wally Sotheby is quite used to being ribbed about his divided national loyalties, as in this wry exchange with Lucy’s Irish father, Morgan Straughan.
‘And you’ll be looking forward to the second Test tomorrow, Wally?’ Daid asked Wally while they walked together.
‘Don’t you start, Mr Straughan,’ Wally replied with a slight groan.
‘To be sure you were glad of the victory the other week?’
‘I can’t say I am, sir.’
‘So ’tis the Australians you’re barracking for after all?’
‘Des does,’ he replied, referring to his step-father. ‘He has a soft spot for the colonies. He says Australian cricket’s a credit to the Empire.’
‘Is that so?’ Daid gave the idea a brief moment’s consideration. ‘Well, I’m thinking it’s nothing like a contest to sort things out, is there?’
‘I don’t know about that, sir. I’m playing cricket tomorrow and I’m going to be toast regardless of which side I’m playing for.’
‘Well, lad,’ Daid gave him an encouraging pat on the back. ‘You ought to hold your head high and be proud of the victory. Was it not a decisive win by the English in Brisbane? And how many runs was it they scored?’
‘They won by six hundred and seventy five runs,’ came the guilt-ridden correction. ‘I say, sir,’ Wally approached the matter cautiously. ‘You don’t barrack for the English do you?’
‘Mother of God, lad!’ Daid feigned shock. ‘What a question is that to ask an Irishman!’
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