The recent Ashes tour of Australia has delivered more than just a sporting contest; it has provided a stark, illuminating lesson in how a nation can cherish and sustain its national summer game. For English fans and observers, the journey through Australia reveals a cricketing culture that is not only alive but is publicly embraced and freely available in a way that has long since vanished from the 'old country'.
A Pilgrimage to Bowral and the Heart of Australian Cricket
The road to Bowral in New South Wales winds through countryside that could easily be mistaken for the English shires, with its rolling pastoral hills and wildflower-flecked verges. Yet here, just off the main street, lies the Bradman Oval. This unassuming ground, with its well-worn outfield, is a site of pilgrimage. It was on this very turf that Sir Don Bradman, Australia's greatest sporting icon, honed the skills that would yield a phenomenal Test average of 99.94.
Standing at the crease, one can see the family homes on Shepherd and Glebe Streets where 'The Don' grew up. This intimate, village-green setting challenges the stereotypical English view of Australian cricket as a purely hard-nosed, desolate endeavour. It speaks instead to deep, community-rooted origins.
Constant Public Displays of Affection for the Game
Travelling across four states – from South Australia to Western Victoria and beyond – cricket proves a constant, unifying companion. Far from the packed Test arenas, the game thrives in everyday life. In the shadow of the Gawler Ranges, a traveller can stumble upon the warm, familial atmosphere of a Wudinna Cricket Club post-match gathering.
In parks, on beaches, and in pub gardens, cricket is the dominant summer pastime. Parents bowl gentle hit-me balls to toddlers wielding miniature bats. In Perth's suburbs and on Melbourne's city beaches, impromptu games erupt, even waist-deep in the waves. This organic, widespread participation is mirrored in the media. Channel 7, the free-to-air broadcaster, made entire Ashes sessions available on demand, adding significant value for fans.
The success of the Big Bash League, running alongside the international summer, creates a festival atmosphere that boosts rather than diminishes interest. This was evidenced by a record combined crowd of 105,767 for New Year's matches at the MCG and Perth's Optus Stadium.
A Lesson in Public Ownership vs English Privatisation
The fundamental difference is one of ownership and access. Australia's major Test grounds, like the Adelaide Oval, are typically owned by state trusts or government agencies, effectively held in trust for the public. They are not run for private club members or venture capitalists, but for the people who play and watch the sport.
This throws England's path into sharp relief. The game's early appropriation by the elite, exemplified by the Marylebone Cricket Club's copyrighting of the laws, set a precedent. Modern iterations include the retreat behind pay-TV walls, its erosion from state schools, and the adoption of dynamic ticket pricing that only ever seems to stretch upwards.
The result is a poignant 'counter-envy'. English fans now travel to Australia to experience a vibrant, public cricketing culture that England once considered a core marker of its own identity and a bond with its colonies. The irony is palpable, akin to French winemakers viewing the survival of ancient vine cuttings in Australian soil after phylloxera devastated European vineyards.
This public spirit extends to the game's heritage. In Harrow, Victoria, a town of just over 100 people, the old bank has been transformed into the Johnny Mullagh Interpretive Centre, celebrating the Aboriginal cricketer who toured England in 1868. Visitors can even bowl in its front yard. Meanwhile, the Bradman Museum in Bowral, open 364 days a year and largely volunteer-staffed, continues to evolve, now boasting a major permanent exhibition celebrating women's cricket.
The ultimate takeaway from this Ashes tour is clear. Australia offers a masterclass in how to keep a national sport truly national – accessible, celebrated, and woven into the fabric of everyday summer life. For England, grappling with a privatised, increasingly exclusive model, the lessons from down under are both profound and urgently relevant.
