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Only Men Aloud Open The Ashes
08 Jul 2015
The 2015 Investec Ashes will be officially launched tomorrow in Cardiff with an Opening Ceremony which pays homage to the traditions of England, Australia and the host nation, Wales.
Fans will be treated to an array of music pre-game – starting with a medley of Welsh, Australian and English anthems performed by Only Men Aloud as members of the Welsh Guards march to position with the flags of the three nations.
The music will continue as trumpeters begin a new fanfare to welcome the players to the SSE SWALEC, coming face to face with their opponents and the historic Ashes urn alongside a display of pyrotechnics.
In accordance with tradition, the Welsh, English and Australian national anthems will then be performed by the Welsh vocal ensemble before the traditional Test match opener ‘Jerusalem’ welcomes both teams to the pitch.
There will also be a distinctive Welsh flavour to the pre-game proceedings at Cardiff. Each day before play the pre-match will be rung by a different person with Welsh ties including former Welsh rugby stars Owen Williams, Jonathan Davies and Sir Gareth Edwards and Falklands War hero Simon Weston.
Today's ceremony will be the pre-cursor to an eagerly anticipated five-match Test series which will be closely followed by cricket fans worldwide as England seek to win a fourth successive home Ashes series following previous triumphs in 2005, 2009, and 2013.
Steve Elworthy, ECB Director of Events said: “The Ashes isn’t just an important event in the sporting calendar here and in Australia, it is something that has fans hooked around the world.
“This opening anthem ceremony will draw on the great history of the competition, whilst celebrating the traditions and passions this famous contest generates.”