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Why is the Ashes tournament called ‘Ashes’?

The Ashes 2021/22 is one of the most anticipated series in the cricket calendar. The tournament includes two teams, England and Australia. Many cricket fans may know that this is the oldest tournament in the history of the game. The England cricket team and the Australian cricket team will play a Test series against each other almost every two years.
The host of the tournament is held alternately. For example, the 2019 Ashes tournament took place in England and now the 2021/22 Ashes tournament will be held in Australia. The host team usually dominated the tournament. However, in the previous Ashes tournament, the England team won 2 matches and the Australian team also managed to win 2 matches. One match ended in a draw. As a result, the tournament was a co-championship for both teams.
Australia recorded their first Test victory on English soil in 1882 at the Oval. The Sporting Times newspaper mentioned that England cricket is dead and the body will be cremated and the ashes will be taken to Australia. Then, before the 1882-83 series in Australia, then England captain Ivo Bligh announced that he would regain the Ashes. This is how the word ash became popular.
After England won two of the three Tests in Melbourne, a group of women presented the England team with a small vase. It is now known as an ashtray and is made of terracotta and is approximately 10.5 cm high. The vase, reputed to be made of burnt bail, is in the MCC Museum at Lord’s but has been moved to Australia twice. Thus, this is a small part of the history of the oldest cricket rivalry.
අළු බදුන තරගාවලියට ‘අළු (Ashes)’ ලෙස හඳුන්වන්නේ ඇයි?
අළු බඳුන 2021/22 යනු ක්රිකට් දින දර්ශනයේ වඩාත්ම අපේක්ෂිත තරග මාලාවකි. මෙම තරඟාවලියට එංගලන්තය සහ ඕස්ට්රේලියාව යන කණ්ඩායම් දෙකක් ඇතුළත් වේ. මෙය ක්රීඩා ඉතිහාසයේ පැරණිතම තරගාවලිය බව බොහෝ ක්රිකට් ලෝලීන් දන්නවා ඇති. එංගලන්ත ක්රිකට් කණ්ඩායම සහ ඕස්ට්රේලියානු ක්රිකට් කණ්ඩායම සෑම වසර දෙකකට වරක්ම පාහේ එකිනෙකාට එරෙහිව ටෙස්ට් තරඟාවලියක් ක්රීඩා කරනු ඇත.
තරගාවලියේ සත්කාරකත්වය මරුවෙන් මාරුවට දරයි. උදාහරණයක් ලෙස, 2019 අළු බඳුන තරඟාවලිය එංගලන්තයේ සිදු වූ අතර දැන් 2021/22 අළු බඳුන තරඟාවලිය ඕස්ට්රේලියාවේදී පැවැත්වේ. සාමාන්යයෙන් තරගාවලියේ ආධිපත්යය දැරුවේ සත්කාරක කණ්ඩායමයි. කෙසේ වෙතත්, මීට පෙර පැවති අළු බඳුන තරගාවලියේදී එංගලන්ත කණ්ඩායම තරග 2ක් ජයග්රහණය කළ අතර ඕස්ට්රේලියානු කණ්ඩායමද තරග 2ක් ජයග්රහණය කිරීමට සමත් විය. එක් තරගයක් ජය පැරදුමකින් තොරව අවසන් විය. ඒ අනුව ඒ තරගාවලිය සම ශූරතාව දෙපිළටම හිමි විය.
ඕස්ට්රේලියාව සිය පළමු ටෙස්ට් ජයග්රහණය එංගලන්ත භූමියේදී වාර්තා කළේ 1882 දී ඕවල් හිදීය. එංගලන්ත ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාව මිය ගොස් ඇති බවත්, දේහය ආදාහනය කර අළු ඔස්ට්රේලියාවට ගෙන යන බවත් ස්පෝර්ටින් ටයිම්ස් පුවත්පත සඳහන් කළා. ඉන්පසුව, 1882-83 ඕස්ට්රේලියාවේ පැවති තරඟාවලියට පෙර, එවකට එංගලන්ත නායක Ivo Bligh ප්රකාශ කළේ ඔහු අළු නැවත ලබා ගන්නා බවයි. අළු යන වචනය ජනප්රිය වූයේ එලෙසිනි.
එංගලන්තය ටෙස්ට් තරග තුනෙන් දෙකකම ජයග්රහණයක් වාර්තා කිරීමෙන් පසු මෙල්බර්න් නුවරදී කාන්තාවන් පිරිසක් එංගලන්ත කණ්ඩායමට කුඩා බඳුනක් තෑගි කළහ. එය දැන් අළු බඳුන ලෙස හඳුන්වන අතර එය ටෙරාකොටා වලින් සාදා ඇති අතර එය ආසන්න වශයෙන් සෙන්ටිමීටර 10.5 ක් උසයි. පිළිස්සුණු ඇපවලින් සෑදූ බවට ප්රසිද්ධියක් උසුලන මෙම බඳුන ලෝඩ්ස් හි MCC කෞතුකාගාරයේ පවතින නමුත් එය දෙවරක් ඕස්ට්රේලියාවට ගෙන ගොස් ඇත. මේ අනුව, මෙය පැරණිතම ක්රිකට් ප්රතිවාදියාගේ ඉතිහාසයේ කුඩා කොටසකි.
ஆஷஸ் போட்டி ஏன் ‘ஆஷஸ்’ என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது?
ஆஷஸ் 2021/22 கிரிக்கெட் காலண்டரில் மிகவும் எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்ட தொடர்களில் ஒன்றாகும். இந்தப் போட்டியில் இங்கிலாந்து மற்றும் ஆஸ்திரேலியா ஆகிய இரு அணிகள் உள்ளன. விளையாட்டு வரலாற்றில் இது மிகவும் பழமையான போட்டி என்பதை பல கிரிக்கெட் ரசிகர்கள் அறிந்திருக்கலாம். இங்கிலாந்து கிரிக்கெட் அணியும் ஆஸ்திரேலிய கிரிக்கெட் அணியும் கிட்டத்தட்ட இரண்டு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு ஒருமுறை டெஸ்ட் தொடரில் விளையாடும்.
போட்டியின் புரவலன் மாறி மாறி நடத்தப்படுகிறது. உதாரணமாக, 2019 ஆஷஸ் போட்டி இங்கிலாந்தில் நடந்தது, இப்போது 2021/22 ஆஷஸ் போட்டி ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் நடைபெறும். பொதுவாக போட்டியை நடத்தும் அணியே ஆதிக்கம் செலுத்தியது. எனினும், இதற்கு முன்னர் நடைபெற்ற ஆஷஸ் போட்டியில் இங்கிலாந்து அணி 2 போட்டிகளில் வெற்றி பெற்றதோடு, அவுஸ்திரேலிய அணியும் 2 போட்டிகளில் வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளது. ஒரு போட்டி டிராவில் முடிந்தது. இதன் விளைவாக, போட்டி இரு தரப்புக்கும் இணை சாம்பியன்ஷிப் ஆனது.
ஆஸ்திரேலியா தனது முதல் டெஸ்ட் வெற்றியை இங்கிலாந்து மண்ணில் 1882 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஓவல் மைதானத்தில் பதிவு செய்தது. ஸ்போர்ட்டிங் டைம்ஸ் நாளிதழ் இங்கிலாந்து கிரிக்கெட் இறந்துவிட்டதாகவும், உடல் தகனம் செய்யப்பட்டு சாம்பல் ஆஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்படும் என்றும் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளது. பின்னர், 1882-83 ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் நடந்த தொடருக்கு முன்பு, அப்போதைய இங்கிலாந்து கேப்டன் இவோ ப்ளிக் ஆஷஸை மீண்டும் பெறுவதாக அறிவித்தார். இப்படித்தான் சாம்பல் என்ற சொல் பிரபலமடைந்தது.
மெல்போர்னில் நடந்த மூன்று டெஸ்டுகளில் இரண்டில் இங்கிலாந்து வெற்றி பெற்ற பிறகு, பெண்கள் குழு இங்கிலாந்து அணிக்கு சிறிய குவளை ஒன்றை பரிசளித்தது. இது இப்போது ஒரு சாம்பல் தட்டு என்று அறியப்படுகிறது மற்றும் டெரகோட்டாவால் ஆனது மற்றும் தோராயமாக 10.5 செமீ உயரம் கொண்டது. எரிக்கப்பட்ட ஜாமீனில் செய்யப்பட்ட குவளை, லார்ட்ஸில் உள்ள MCC அருங்காட்சியகத்தில் உள்ளது, ஆனால் இரண்டு முறை ஆஸ்திரேலியாவிற்கு மாற்றப்பட்டது. எனவே, இது பழமையான கிரிக்கெட் போட்டியின் வரலாற்றின் ஒரு சிறிய பகுதியாகும்.
Cricket
Kamindu Mendis Shines as Sunrisers Hyderabad Break Chepauk Curse, Crush CSK’s Playoff Hopes | IPL 2025
Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis delivered under pressure, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) script a historic first-ever win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium during the IPL 2025 season.
Chasing a tricky target of 155, Mendis played a composed and crucial unbeaten knock of 32 off 22 balls, stitching an unbroken 49-run partnership with Nitish Kumar to seal a five-wicket victory with eight balls to spare. His calm presence at the crease when the game was delicately poised underlined his growing stature in T20 cricket.
Earlier, the Chennai Super Kings, once invincible at home, continued their disastrous 2025 campaign — suffering a fourth consecutive home defeat. Batting first, CSK stumbled despite a promising start, collapsing to 154 all out. Dewald Brevis impressed briefly on debut with a quickfire 42 runs, but it was Harshal Patel’s brilliant spell (4 wickets for 28 runs) that broke CSK’s backbone.
For CSK, promising youngster Ayush Mhatre shone early, but a middle-order collapse proved costly. Even skipper M.S. Dhoni’s tactical gamble of giving Sam Curran two overs backfired, as SRH batters capitalized to turn the game.
In the SRH chase, despite early hiccups — losing Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head quickly — Ishan Kishan’s fluent 44 and Kamindu Mendis’ finishing touch ensured Hyderabad stayed alive in the playoff race.
Meanwhile, in the updated IPL 2025 points table, Sunrisers Hyderabad now sits 8th with 6 points, while CSK languishes at the bottom with just 4 points from 9 games, effectively ending their playoff dreams.
Mendis’ all-round contribution, including a key wicket earlier, and his coolness in the chase were pivotal. While Harshal Patel deservedly took the Player of the Match award, Sri Lanka can proudly celebrate Kamindu’s evolving prowess on the IPL stage.
Points Table Update (After SRH vs CSK Match):
- GT, DC, and RCB are leading the race with 12 points each.
- PBKS and MI are close behind with 11 and 10 points.
- CSK and RR are at the bottom with just 4 points, all but knocked out of the playoffs.
News
Kaya Daluwatte and Reshan Algama Shine at 16th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in Vietnam
Sri Lanka’s promising golf talents Kaya Daluwatte and Reshan Algama showcased their growing international class with stellar performances at the prestigious 16th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, held at the stunning Laguna Golf Lang Co in Vietnam.
Facing off against the finest junior golfers from the Asia-Pacific region—including representatives from Australia, England, Japan, India, and Wales—both Kaya and Reshan rose to the occasion, underlining Sri Lanka’s emerging strength in the sport.
Kaya Daluwatte delivered one of her career-best performances, finishing as the runner-up in the Girls’ Under-16 category. After three composed rounds, she posted a remarkable final score of even-par 216, highlighted by an impressive 2-under-par finish in the final round. Despite Japan’s Al Goto clinching the title with a score of 213, Kaya’s climb up the leaderboard captured widespread admiration. Her poise, precision, and birdies during the crucial back-nine holes showcased a maturity well beyond her years.
This runner-up finish at one of Asia’s top junior championships marks a historic achievement for Sri Lankan golf, signaling that the nation’s junior golfers are ready to challenge the region’s traditional powerhouses.
In the Boys’ Under-16 category, Reshan Algama also left his mark by securing a strong fourth-place finish with a gross score of 218. Although his final round did not match the brilliance of his earlier efforts, Reshan displayed commendable composure against a highly competitive international field. His consistency across top-level tournaments reflects his rapid development into a serious contender on the global junior golf circuit.
Vietnam’s Tuan Anh Nguyen dominated the Boys’ division, leading from start to finish to claim the title with a superb score of 205. India’s Arshvant Srivastava and Kanav Chauhan finished second and third, with scores of 214 and 216 respectively.
Kaya and Reshan’s performances not only bring pride to Sri Lanka but also signal a bright future for the country’s junior golfing scene on the Asian stage.
Football
SAFF Championship Postponement Exposes Deeper Issues Within FFSL
The much-anticipated SAFF Championship, originally scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka in July 2025, has now been officially postponed to 2026—a move that has raised serious concerns over the competence and credibility of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
According to the SAFF Executive Committee, the decision to delay the tournament stemmed largely from pressure exerted by its marketing partner, Sportfive, which advocated for a home-and-away format to increase commercial value. Furthermore, it is reported that Sportfive preferred the event be hosted in Bangladesh or India, citing better sponsor access and commercial feasibility in those countries if the tournament were to follow a centralized model.
However, beyond external pressure, this development highlights a troubling reality: the FFSL’s inability to effectively organize and defend Sri Lanka’s hosting rights on the international stage. This isn’t merely a scheduling issue—it reflects a deeper pattern of administrative shortcomings, lack of vision, and prioritization of media narratives over tangible development.
As previously reported by Sri Lankan Sports TV, the FFSL continues to focus more on optics and media stunts rather than on the foundational work required to uplift football in the country. The failure to safeguard Sri Lanka’s opportunity to host a major regional tournament not only affects the sport’s growth domestically but also damages the nation’s reputation within South Asian football.
For a federation that has long promised reform and transparency, this latest setback exposes how little progress has actually been made. When commercial partners have more sway than the national football body itself, it’s a clear indication that local football governance is being undermined by weak leadership and poor planning.
This should be a wake-up call—not just for the FFSL, but for every stakeholder invested in the future of Sri Lankan football. The time for slogans and staged announcements is over. Sri Lanka needs action, accountability, and genuine commitment to building a sustainable footballing culture. Until then, headlines like this will only continue to reflect a sport lost in mismanagement.
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