Ashes rivalry hits 25-year mark

The 25th edition of Taranaki's cricketing Ashes will be played between rural clubs Pihama and Auroa next weekend.

Dreamt up by a few blokes huddled over a bar leaner, the Ashes is now one of the most important dates on the social and sporting calendar for anyone with an association with either district.

While no-one can categorically say what was burnt for the Ashes, rumour has it an old jock strap and an empty DB beer crate got torched, with the remains being stuffed into a bottle of Purple Death, a dodgy Hawke's Bay red from the early 1980s.

Hundreds of spectators are expected at Pihama on Saturday to watch the one-day match, the day after the small South Taranaki settlement hosts a "meet and greet" evening for past and present players.

The previous 24 Ashes matches have been reasonably even, with Pihama holding a slight advantage of 13 wins to Auroa's 11.

Pihama club captain Geoff Batchelor said Pihama had held the upper hand in recent seasons, however, winning the last three.

"History has shown no team has ever retained the Ashes for more than three consecutive years, so it's not looking good for Pihama," he said.

One player who knows plenty about playing in the Ashes matches is Auroa veteran Trevor Taunt, who is yet to miss a match since its inception.

A Twenty20 match for the Ashes old-timers has also been organised for the Sunday.

- © Fairfax NZ News