Different Eras, But Victory Remains So Sweet

Comparisons between eras are often futile but I’m going to do it anyway, highlighting the differences and, where they occur, the similarities between England’s Ashes tour of 1982/3, which I experienced under Bob Willis, and the one Joe Root’s team are undertaking some 35 years later.

- Derek Pringle

Let’s start with the flight. We left London aboard Qantas flight QF2 on October 13, in Business Class, though there were smoking seats, a facility several players availed themselves of. We also drank beer or wine for most of the three legs, London to Bahrain, there to Singapore, and Singapore to Brisbane.

 

Rod Marsh’s record of 48 cans of Foster’s (David Boon had yet to break it) was not threatened. When we alighted we underwent ten days of training and nets ahead of our first game against Queensland at the Gabba. In the evenings we repaired to General Jackson’s bar beneath our hotel, where happy hour, bizarrely, began at 10pm.

The current England team flew Etihad, also in Business, but would have undertaken just two legs, so a shorter journey overall especially as they flew into Perth which sits on the western edge of Australia, the opposite to Brisbane. No idea how many would have tucked into the booze but they probably have a physiologist with them, reminding them to drink lots of non-alcoholic fluids so as to minimise jet-lag. Of course there was not much inflight entertainment in 1982, so we had an excuse to get pie-eyed.

Continuing the flying theme, Australia being such a big country and all. We made a total of 29 flights in 1982/3, though that included jetting about for the World Series triangular which followed the Tests. Root’s boys will take 14 flights, fewer if they are not involved in the one-day series or T20 triangular in February.