by Jennifer Rutherford, ESPN International

We all know that passionate sports fan. They wear the jersey, camp out for tickets, withstand sub-zero temperatures wearing next-to-nothing, the Jets tattooed on their right bicep, but one English cricket fan has taken it to another level. Such was Oli Broom’s love of that very English of summer sports that he decided to cycle alone without support across four continents just to watch cricket in Australia. It took him 14 months, through several danger zones and hospitable places arriving as promised in Brisbane in time for the first Test.

England Captain, Andrew Strauss celebrates winning the 2009 Ashes Series in England

Since Oli arrived at the Gabba (the Brisbane ground is located in the suburb of Woolloongabba), England have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The first Test in Brisbane was a draw, England fighting back from a disastrous start to their Ashes defence when they were bowled out in their first innings on the first day. The second Test in Adelaide was a more one-sided affair, England winning by an innings and 71 runs. The third Test starts in Perth on December 16. England hold the Ashes after winning in England in 2009, but have not won a series in Australia since the 1986/7 series.

The Ashes is the most historic of cricket series. Played every second summer in either England or Australia, the contest dates back to 1882. The series came about after a satirical obituary was published in a British newspaper when Australia beat England on English soil for the first time. The obituary read that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English media dubbed the next English tour to Australia (1882–83) as the quest to regain The Ashes. While on that tour the England captain Ivo Bligh was presented a tiny terracotta urn by a group of women from Melbourne. Inside is reputed to be the ashes of a bail, the small piece of wood that sits on top of the wickets. Over 100 years later the rivalry and occasion still ignites the interest of even the casual cricket fan.

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