Cricket ball, ‘Ashes in the Desert’, Operation TELIC, Iraq, 25 October 2006 (leather)

Cricket ball, ‘Ashes in the Desert’, Operation TELIC, Iraq, 25 October 2006. Red leather cricket ball with inscription, ‘This Ball was used in the Australian Innings, ‘Ashes in the Desert’ Basra Iraq 25th October 2006’. To mark the Ashes Test Series a cricket match between English and Australian soldiers was played on 25 October 2006 in Basra, Iraq. Played on coconut matting surrounded by desert, at one stage play was suspended while a Chinese 107 mm rocket was removed from the outfield. The match ended with a victory for the Australians. England made 109 for 9 off their 30 overs, but the Australians responded with 113 runs off 27.5 overs. The soldiers involved came from a variety of units. Trooper Baker of the Australian Light Horse was named man of the match.