Two cricket balls from the 'Ashes in the Desert', Iraq, October 2006

Photograph by Corporal Adrian Harlen, Royal Logistic Corps, Combat Camera Team, Press information Centre, 2006. One of four digital photographs on CD Rom of the 'Ashes in the Desert' Australia v England cricket match at Basra Air Station, Iraq, 25 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.